Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Technology: Procurement

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, published in March 2021, CP 403, what steps her Department is taking to use the own-collaborate-access framework in decision-making on the procurement of (a) technologies, (b) services and (c) systems.

Andrew Griffith: The own-collaborate-access framework is primarily focussed on technologies, where it guides strategic decisions on building and using capability in priority areas of science and technology and has informed the approach we have publicly set out for each of our critical technologies. The implementation of the Procurement Act (2023) will support science and technology businesses, for example by requiring larger contracting authorities to publish pipelines of their future procurements and providing more flexibility to procures to use their commercial skills to achieve their outcomes and better communicate their problems to work with suppliers on solutions.

Space Technology: Civil Defence

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent steps her Department has taken to establish a civil-defence national space operations centre.

Andrew Griffith: The National Space Strategy asked the UK Space Agency and Ministry of Defence to establish a National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC). NSpOC will combine and coordinate civil and military space domain awareness capabilities to enable operations and protect UK interests in space and on earth from space related threats, risks and hazards. NSpOC is scheduled to launch during 2024.

Satellites

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent estimate she has made of when the next satellite launch will take place in the UK.

Andrew Griffith: Several commercial launch providers have stated their intent to launch from both SaxaVord and Sutherland spaceports in Scotland in 2024. It should be noted that any launch date prediction is dependent on a range of factors including weather as well as the technical readiness of launch operators and their payload customers.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Recruitment

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much her Department spent on external recruitment consultants in the (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23 financial year.

Andrew Griffith: External recruitment agencies and search firms are an important resource which support the Civil Service's ability to recruit - to find talented people, in the right places, with the right capabilities to deliver for the people of the United Kingdom. The Civil Service has developed a number of commercial frameworks which provide transparency, high quality services and value for money. As the Hon member may recall, the Prime Minister announced the creation of DSIT on 7 Feb 2023. For the time periods specified in this request the Department therefore did not exist or systems had not yet been put in place to separate the new departments and the parliamentary supply was not disaggregated. As such the answer for DSIT is nil.

Department for Education

Music: Education

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2023 to Question 4115 on Music: Education, when her Department plans to (a) commission and (b) publish the independent evaluation of the Music Hub programme.

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2023 to Question 4115 on Music: Education, for what reason her Department is undertaking an independent evaluation of the Music Hub programme after the restructuring of the programme.

Damian Hinds: Information on the planned independent evaluation of the Music Hubs programme will be released in due course, including on a timetable for relation to the commissioning and publication. The department regularly commissions independent evaluation of funded programmes, to assess their effectiveness and to inform future delivery, and this includes the Music Hubs programme.

Music: Teachers

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary school music teachers there were in (a) 2010, (b) 2015, (c) 2019 and (d) 2022.

Damian Hinds: The department does not collect information on subjects taught in primary schools.

Schools and Universities: Anti-semitism

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2023, published on 22 November 2023, which organisations will receive the £7 million funding to help tackle antisemitism in schools and universities in the next three years.

Damian Hinds: Following the Autumn Statement announcement, the government is preparing to issue an invitation for interested organisations to tender, to tackle anti-semitism in schools, colleges, and universities. The department encourages all interested organisations to consider submitting a bid in response to the invitation to tender.

Schools: Discipline

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on when to intervene if a school's disciplinary policy is reported to be causing harm to the mental health of students.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the compliance of school disciplinary policies with the Equality Act 2010; and what assessment she has made of the impact of those policies on people (a) with a protected characteristic, (b) who identify as neurodivergent and (c) with a diagnosed mental health condition.

Damian Hinds: In July 2022, the department published updated guidance on the ‘Behaviour in Schools and Suspension and Permanent Exclusion’ statutory guidance. These documents provide clarity and support to schools on how to manage behaviour well for all pupils in the school community. Any school behaviour policy must be lawful, proportionate and reasonable and comply with the school’s duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Education and Inspections Act 2006. Account must be taken of a pupil’s age, any Special Educational Needs or Disabilities they may have, and any religious requirements affecting them. Schools have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to take such steps as is reasonable to avoid any substantial disadvantage to a disabled pupil caused by the school’s policies or practices. Within these legal parameters, it is then for individual schools to develop their own policies. As part of any graded inspection, Ofsted will make a judgement on behaviour and attitudes. If a school is judged inadequate for its overall effectiveness, this triggers powers to intervene to secure improvement. Where a school is judged to require improvement on two or more consecutive occasions, the department may also intervene. If there are any concerns regarding a school’s behaviour policy, these should be raised through the normal school complaints procedure. The department does not collect data on the impact of disciplinary policies on children who have a protected characteristic, identify as neurodivergent, or a mental health diagnosis. The National Behaviour Survey runs termly to track experiences and perceptions of pupil behaviour in schools and includes data on pupil’s perceptions on whether the rules on behaviour are applied fairly to all pupils. The most recent data available is for the 2021/2022 academic term, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-behaviour-survey-reports.

Social Services: Training

Sir Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that staff working within children's social care receive training to understand the potential altruistic motivation of potential (a) foster and (b) adoptive parents of faith.

Sir Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will take steps to ensure staff working within local government children's social care receive training to understand the potential altruistic motivation of potential (a) foster and (b) adoptive parents of faith.

David Johnston: Local authorities are responsible for the continuous professional development of their workforces, including social workers. Social workers are critical to the functioning of the wider children’s social care system. They must meet the professional standards set by Social Work England to practise as a social worker. In relation to the altruism of those seeking to foster and adopt, the standards recognise the importance of family and community networks, requiring social workers to work in partnership with these. To support child and family social workers to continuously improve their practice, the department funds professional development for around 4,000 social workers each year. The new Early Career Framework for child and family social workers will significantly extend the training and support they receive in the early stages of their career, helping to equip them with the knowledge skills they need to support children and families.

Special Educational Needs

Nick Fletcher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local councils secure the specified special educational provision for children and young people as set out in the Children and Families Act 2014.

David Johnston: Local authorities are statutorily responsible for securing the special educational provision specified in the Education, Health and Care plans they issue. They must work with schools, colleges, Integrated Care Services, parents and young people to design and deliver a Local Offer of services and provision to meet the Special Educational Needs of their children and young people. Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission inspect local areas’ Special Educational Needs and Disabilities services. Where inspection identifies significant weaknesses, the department may intervene to require improvement.

British National (Overseas): Visas

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of potential merits of making people with British National (Overseas) visas eligible for student finance.

Robert Halfon: To qualify for student finance in the UK, a person must have settled status or a recognised connection to the UK. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders will be able to qualify for student finance once they have acquired settled status, which is usually after five years, and have three years of ordinary residence in the UK. The government believes that it is right that the support provided by the taxpayer should be targeted at those who have a history of a lawful and substantial residence in the UK. There are no plans to review BN(O) status holder’s access to student finance.

Childcare

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the offer of 30 hours of free childcare for three and four year-olds to the children of working parents in families with no recourse to public funds.

David Johnston: The government expects migrants coming to the UK to be able to maintain and accommodate themselves without the support of public funds.The new working parent entitlement, which will be rolled out in phases from April 2024, will be available to working parents who meet the eligibility criteria. These will be the same as the current 30 hours offer for 3 and 4-year-olds. The free childcare entitlements for the children of working parents are not within the definition of ’public funds’ in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 or the Immigration Rules. However, there are requirements in the Childcare (Free of Charge for Working Parents) (England) Regulations 2022 for the parent, or one of the parents, not to be subject to immigration control, which means that where both parents have no recourse to public funds, they will not be eligible for the entitlements. Parents with no recourse to public funds are, however, able to access the 15 hours free early education entitlement available for all 3 and 4-year-olds and, if eligible, 15 hours free early education for disadvantaged 2-year-olds. In September 2022, the department extended eligibility for the 2-year-old entitlement to disadvantaged families who have no recourse to public funds. This is because these entitlements are intended to support children's development and help prepare them for school. The government has no current plans to extend the early years entitlements for working parents to families with no recourse to public funds.

Schools: Central Bedfordshire

Alistair Strathern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to support Central Bedfordshire Council with the transition from a three-tier to a two-tier school system.

Damian Hinds: Local Authorities can decide to transition from a three-tier to a two-tier school system. It is a Local Authority’s responsibility to manage such a transition. The Secretary of State is aware of some of the challenges faced, and recently met with parents, staff as well as representatives from the local community to discuss their concerns around delivering Central Bedfordshire Council’s transitional arrangements. The department’s role is to approve or decline changes to age ranges for schools that are academies. To date, the department has approved seven applications to support academies to become either primary or secondary schools.The department provides capital funding through the Basic Need grant to support Local Authorities to meet their statutory duty to provide sufficient school places. While this funding is not designed to fund transitions from a three-tier to a two-tier system, the funding is not ringfenced,  subject to published conditions, and Local Authorities are free to use this funding to best meet their local priorities. Central Bedfordshire Council will receive just under £36.1 million for places needed between May 2022 and September 2026, paid across the five financial years from 2021/22 to 2025/26. This takes their total funding allocated between 2011 and 2026 to just under £121.3 million.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Israel and Occupied Territories: Arms Trade

Dan Carden: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2023 to Question 2956 on Israel and Occupied Territories: Weapons, how many applications for export licences his Department has assessed in relation to the situation in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank since 7 October 2023.

David Rutley: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Guyana: Venezuela

Luke Pollard: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what representations he has made to his Venezuelan counterpart on that country's territorial dispute with Guyana.

David Rutley: The UK Government does not recognise the legitimacy of the Maduro regime. On 30 November, the Foreign Secretary discussed Venezuela's steps with respect to the region of Essequibo in Guyana with President Ali of Guyana. We consider the unilateral actions of Venezuela unjustified and have said they should cease. The UK is clear that the border was settled in 1899 through international arbitration. We will continue to work with partners in the region and international bodies such as the UN Security Council, the Commonwealth and the Organisation of American States to seek a peaceful resolution.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Recruitment

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how much his Department spent on external recruitment consultants in the (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23 financial year.

David Rutley: The FCDO publishes Expenditure on Consultancy and Temporary Staff in the Annual Report and Accounts. Costs reported in the ARA 2022-23 & 2021-22 are as per the below table.Financial YearCost2020-21£28,421,3112021-22£45,336,0072022-23£53,365,260External recruitment agencies and search firms are an important resource which support the Civil Service's ability to recruit - to find talented people, in the right places, with the right capabilities to deliver for the people of the United Kingdom. The Civil Service has developed a number of commercial frameworks which provide transparency, high quality services and value for money.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what information his Department holds on the nationalities of people executed in Iran in the last 12 months.

David Rutley: The UK Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances in every country, including Iran. The opaque nature of Iran's judicial system makes it difficult to gather detail on all executions that have taken place. The execution of British-Iranian national Alireza Akbari in January demonstrated the Iranian authority's complete disregard for human life. Similarly, their execution of Swedish-Iranian national Habib Chaab in May was an unacceptable politically motivated act. We will never accept Iran's use of the death penalty, or its practice of unfairly detaining foreign nationals, and we will continue to work with partners to hold Iran to account.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what estimate his Department has made of the number of executions that have occurred in Iran in the last 12 months.

David Rutley: The opaque nature of Iran's judicial system prevents us from knowing exactly how many executions have taken place. However, Iranian human rights groups estimate that over 700 people have been executed this year, marking a concerning escalation. The UK Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances in all countries, especially when imposed upon minors. We have made clear to Iran, both in public and privately, our opposition to the use of the death penalty. We co-sponsored the Iran Human Rights Resolution at the 78th UN General Assembly, calling for an immediate moratorium on executions with a view to eventually abolishing the death penalty.

Commonwealth: British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Commonwealth Secretariat on the potential merits of including the (a) British Overseas Territories and (b) Crown Dependencies as independent members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

David Rutley: The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states. The British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are represented through the UK's membership of the Commonwealth and are able to participate in many aspects of the Commonwealth, including the Commonwealth Games. The UK supports closer links between the British Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth and is committed to working together to examine options for the greater participation of the Territory Governments and peoples in its organisations.

Israel: Palestinians

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential implications for its policies of the Palestinian Emirates plan published in 2012.

David Rutley: The UK's longstanding position on the Middle East Peace Process is clear: we support a negotiated settlement leading to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state; based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and a just, fair, agreed and realistic settlement for refugees. We want to see a contiguous West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as part of that state.

Gaza: Israel

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has taken steps to support a ceasefire south of the Wadi in Gaza.

David Rutley: Israel has a right to self-defence and needs to be able to address the threat posed by Hamas, in a manner that abides by International Humanitarian Law. The UK is supportive of humanitarian pauses, and the temporary cessation of hostilities, to enable humanitarian organisations to deliver aid and give respite to civilians. The recent pause was a welcome opportunity to get hostages out and to allow increased amounts of aid and fuel in. The UK continues to press, both at the UN and directly with Israel, for unhindered humanitarian access and further substantive, repeated humanitarian pauses; to tackle the humanitarian crisis, we need an immediate and sustained humanitarian pause to allow aid in at scale and Israel to open Kerem Shalom fully.

Gaza: Children

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make representations to the Israeli Government on protecting children in Gaza.

David Rutley: The Foreign Secretary visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 23 November, where he met President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and other senior Israeli officials and discussed the conflict and the future. The Foreign Secretary expressed concerns that there will be no long-term safety, security and stability for Israel unless there is long term safety, security and stability for the Palestinian people, particularly children. The UK government is concerned about the shocking impact of the conflict on children in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and UK humanitarian aid will ensure the specific needs of children are met, including the specific needs of girls. As reiterated by the Prime Minister at COP28 in December 2023, we are continually making it clear that Israel must take maximum care to protect civilian life, especially young lives.

Hamas: Israel

Imran Hussain: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to the urgent question on Israel and Hamas: Humanitarian Pause in the House of Lords on 29 November 2023, Official Report column 1091 HL, what his Department's policy is on whether there should be a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

David Rutley: Israel has a right to self-defence and needs to be able to address the threat posed by Hamas, in a manner that abides by International Humanitarian Law. The UK is supportive of humanitarian pauses, and the temporary cessation of hostilities, to enable humanitarian organisations to deliver aid and give respite to civilians. As noted in the response of 29 November, the recent pause was a welcome opportunity to get hostages out and to allow increased amounts of aid and fuel in. We continue to press, at the UN and with Israel, for unhindered humanitarian access and substantive, repeated humanitarian pauses.

Binyamin Needham

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the death of Binyamin Needham in Gaza.

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel following the death of Binyamin Needham in Gaza.

David Rutley: The Foreign Secretary's thoughts are with the family of Binyamin Needham at this difficult time. Operationally the FCDO has not been approached for consular assistance, but our staff stand ready to support British nationals abroad 24/7. The safety and security of all British nationals continues to be our utmost priority and we are doing everything we can to support them. More than 250 people registered with the FCDO, including British Nationals and their dependants, have so far left Gaza.

UN Charter

Dan Carden: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the UN Secretary-General invoking Article 99 of the UN Charter.

David Rutley: Israel has a right to self-defence and needs to be able to address the threat posed by Hamas, in a manner that abides by International Humanitarian Law. The UK is supportive of humanitarian pauses, and the temporary cessation of hostilities, to ensure the conditions are safe for humanitarian organisations to deliver aid to those in need and to give respite to civilians. However, we cannot vote in favour of a resolution which does not condemn the atrocities Hamas committed against innocent Israeli civilians on 7 October. We continue to press, at the UN and with Israel, for unhindered humanitarian access and substantive, repeated humanitarian pauses. We will continue to work with international partners to secure a long-term political solution to the conflict; a two-state solution which provides justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

West Bank: Violence

Imran Hussain: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of trends in the level of violence in the West Bank.

David Rutley: We are clear that settler violence and the targeting of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank is completely unacceptable. It undermines security and stability at a time when Israelis and Palestinians are desperate for both and increases the risks of atrocities and intercommunal violence. Israel must prevent these acts and hold those responsible to account, ensuring any perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted. Ultimately, to prevent further conflict, there must be a political solution: a two-state solution which provides justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, ending the security threat posed by Hamas and with the Israelis taking more precautions regarding civilians and tackling settler violence.

Hamas: Israel

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he (a) has and (b) plans to have discussions with the government of Qatar on steps it is taking to help secure a further humanitarian pause between Israel and Hamas.

David Rutley: The UK is involved in diplomatic efforts to help secure a further humanitarian pause working with our counterparts in Qatar, Israel, the US and others. The recent pause demonstrates what can be achieved to get vital aid into Gaza including the levels of aid that is possible and it is important that this level of aid is now, at a minimum, sustained. The UK is supportive of humanitarian pauses as part of measures to facilitate the flow of life-saving humanitarian aid and ensure civilians are safe. The FCDO is actively engaging with international partners and those operating on the ground to do all we can to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We will continue to use all the tools of British diplomacy and development to enhance the prospects of peace and stability in the region, working closely with our partners.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Peace Negotiations

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent assessment he has made of the progress of regional diplomatic efforts to secure peace in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK Government is committed to supporting efforts to build stability and reduce violence in The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) including through the UN Peacekeeping Mission MONUSCO, where the UK contributed £51 million in 2022/23, and have allocated £48 million for 2023/2024. The UK welcomes continued engagement from countries in the region. The UK strongly believes in the primacy of political process and we reiterate our support for the regionally led Nairobi and Luanda peace processes, which aim to counter the spiral of violence in eastern DRC. We continue to urge all parties and countries in the region to deliver on their commitments to revitalise these political processes and to turn commitments into tangible action to address shared security challenges, improve humanitarian access and reduce violence. The UK remains strongly of the view that dialogue, not violence, is the only way to achieve lasting peace in eastern DRC.

Cyprus: Russia

Afzal Khan: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of levels of Russian investment in the economy of the Republic of Cyprus.

Leo Docherty: The UK and Cyprus have a shared goal to reduce Putin's capacity to fund his illegal war in Ukraine. Following the 2022 invasion, Cyprus has joined the rest of the EU in adopting an unprecedented package of sanctions against Russia. We are committed to working with international partners to ensure sanctions are effective and to tackle sanctions evasion. The UK Government is working with Cypriot authorities to provide technical support for the creation of a new sanctions implementation unit, drawing on international best practice and lessons from the UK's own Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI).

Democratic Republic of Congo: Development Aid

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department is taking steps to help (a) the people displaced in eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and (b) reduce the outbreak of disease and hunger in that region.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The humanitarian emergency in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the most catastrophic globally. 5.5 million people are now displaced, with the majority living in unacceptable conditions and at risk of food insecurity. In addition, climate shocks are impacting agriculture, livelihoods and fishing, increasing food prices (by 16 per-cent on average) and poverty levels and resulting in a deterioration of basic infrastructure. In response, the UN's System Wide Scale Up has been extended for a second time until end of December. The UK supported the scale up and urged for more resources and action from the DRC Government and other international partners. A 3-year £98 million UK funded humanitarian and resilience programme for crisis affected communities in eastern DRC where the food security needs are the highest has recently been approved. We are currently allocating funding to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for Cholera, to the World Food Programme (WFP) for food security and to a new consortium led by Concern to improve livelihoods of conflict affected communities that will address disease and hunger.

Polisario Front

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Polisario Front on (a) regional stability and (b) international security.

David Rutley: The FCDO regards the Polisario Front as a pro-independence movement and party to a UN-mediated dispute. The UK Government continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Afghanistan: Overseas Students

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he is taking steps with Ministers in the (a) Department for Education and (b) Home Office to help facilitate female Afghan medical students to study in the UK.

Leo Docherty: The UK is committed to supporting the continuation of vital health services in Afghanistan. Our focus is on the delivery of essential primary health care and maternal and child health, specifically targeted at women and children.In our engagement with the Taliban, we continue to advocate for the importance of women and girls receiving the education they need so that Afghanistan has the trained female medical staff that are required to deliver vital health services.Any Afghan medical students wishing to study in the UK would need to apply to individual medical schools and meet their entry requirements, as well as meeting any UK immigration requirements.

New START Treaty

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will hold discussions with his US counterpart on taking steps to ensure that all parties originally committed to the New START Treaty comply with their obligations under that treaty.

Leo Docherty: The UK has long valued New START (Strategic Arms Reductions Treaties) for its contribution to strategic stability, transparency and building trust. Russia's unilateral suspension undermines this. We urge Russia to return to full Treaty compliance.We regularly discuss nuclear arms control issues with the US and will continue to support their efforts to secure a successor to the Treaty when it expires in 2026. We welcome the United States' commitment to engage Russia now to manage nuclear risks and develop a post-2026 arms control framework.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands: Fisheries and Krill

Emma Hardy: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the impact of climate change on (a) fishing and (b) krill stocks in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

David Rutley: Climate change is likely to result in lower oxygen and greater acidity in the waters around South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI), together with reduced sea ice and increasing iceberg scour. Over time, these will likely lead to changes in the distribution and range of many of SGSSI's marine species, with krill and krill-eating animals likely to move further south, as new species from lower latitudes will become established in the region. The Government of SGSSI's ongoing review of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) will consider any new information on the effects of climate change and whether the current MPA measures are sufficiently precautionary given the level of regional warming.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands: Marine Protected Areas

Emma Hardy: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) on the potential merits of including the precautionary principle as part of the marine protected area review underway in SGSSI.

David Rutley: The South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) Marine Protected Area (MPA) provides comprehensive protection across the entire maritime zone, which also allows small scale, highly regulated fishing, in a way that protects the unique marine ecosystem. The fishery is highly precautionary and has been rated as one of the most sustainable in the world by the Marine Stewardship Council. The Government of SGSSI is currently undertaking the second 5-year review of its MPA. The review is considering the effectiveness of the current MPA measures, including whether the underpinning scientific research and monitoring is sufficient, particularly in light of climate change. The review will determine whether additional measures are required to achieve the stated MPA objectives. The Government of SGSSI is committed to reporting on its review by early next year.

Myanmar: Armed Conflict

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what diplomatic steps the Government is taking (a) bilaterally and (b) with its UN partners to help tackle conflict in Myanmar.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: The UK is monitoring the conflict in Myanmar closely. We have provided £120 million of life saving assistance in Myanmar, including to those displaced by the conflict. We work closely with the US, Canada and the EU to target sanctions on the military regime. In December 2022, the UK led the first ever UN Security Council Resolution on Myanmar, which demanded an end to violence and immediate implementation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Five Point Consensus. Since then the UK has continued to call for an end to the crisis including through the UN Human Rights Council and UN Security Council.

Myanmar: Humanitarian Aid

Dan Carden: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Myanmar.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan: We continue to monitor the humanitarian situation, the escalating conflict and the restrictions on humanitarian access in Myanmar. According to the UN, at least 500,000 people have been displaced by the recent violence, in addition to the two million already displaced. Over 18.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The British Embassy in Yangon are ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches those most in need. Since the February 2021 coup, we have provided more than £120 million in humanitarian and development assistance, including supporting internally displaced persons, by providing food, water, hygiene and sanitation services, shelter and medical equipment.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Sexual Offences

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce rates of conflict-related sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The UK regularly engages with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), civil society and international partners on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). We welcome DRC recently formally joined the International Alliance on the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI). UK support is wide-ranging and includes vital support to CRSV survivors through our humanitarian programme. Through our partnership with the Global Survivors Fund, the UK has provided livelihood, education, medical, psychological and legal support to over a thousand survivors of CRSV, as part of broader holistic redress projects co-created with survivors to meet their needs. The UK also funds an access to justice project for CRSV survivors in eastern DRC. Working with TRIAL International, it provides legal support to survivors as well as training and mentoring to magistrates, lawyers and human rights defenders to help bring an end to the culture of impunity. We lobby the DRC Government to push for the imposition of sanctions, through the UN, against individuals who have committed human rights abuses, and on 19 June, announced new sanctions against perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict, sending a clear signal that the UK will hold accountable those responsible for these crimes.

Sudan: Food Supply

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to tackle food insecurity in Sudan.

Mr Andrew Mitchell: The conflict is having a devastating impact on Sudanese populations, with 20.3 million people - 42 per-cent of the population - in need of urgent food assistance. In November, at the Global Food Security Summit in London, the UK pledged a further £14.3 million in humanitarian aid for Sudan, bringing our total support package to £36 million for 2023-2024, which includes some nutrition assistance. On 4 May, the UK Government announced £5 million of life-saving aid to help meet the urgent needs of refugees and returnees in South Sudan and Chad who have fled the violence in Sudan. This included, in Chad, £1.75 million for the World Food Programme to preposition food before seasonal floods and, in South Sudan, £1.5 million for the World Food Programme for food in border areas.

Department of Health and Social Care

Smoking

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the consultation on Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping, updated by her Department on 20 October 2023, whether she plans to update that consultation to reflect the planned repeal of the generational smoking ban in New Zealand.

Andrea Leadsom: Smoking is responsible for around 80,000 deaths a year in the United Kingdom and causes around one in four cancer deaths in the UK. It also costs our country £17 billion a year and puts a huge burden on the National Health Service.Vaping is rightly used by adults as a tool to quit smoking as they are substantially less harmful than cigarettes. However, the Government is concerned about the worrying rise in vaping among children, with youth vaping tripling in the last three years and one in five children having now used a vape.Whilst New Zealand plan to repeal their legislation, the Government is still planning to create a smokefree generation by bringing forward legislation so that children turning 14 years old or younger this year will never be legally sold tobacco products, and further crack down on youth vaping by consulting on measures to reduce the appeal and availability of vapes to children. On 12 October 2023, we launched a UK-wide consultation to gather views on these proposals and their implementation.

NHS: Drugs

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information the National Homecare Medicines Committee has provided to the (a) Care Quality Commission, (b) General Pharmaceutical Council and (c) Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the adequacy of the (i) performance and (ii) safety of homecare medicines services in the last three years.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Domestic Accidents: Health Services

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the number of dedicated fall prevention teams.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Pharmacy

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help maintain the availability of (a) pharmacies and (b) medication.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: Weather

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps her Department has taken to prepare for winter 2023-24 in (a) Bournemouth East constituency and (b) the South West.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction: Medical Treatments

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of offering Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction treatment on the NHS.

Andrew Stephenson: There are currently no licensed medicines for use in the treatment of Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction. Healthcare professionals are responsible for making decisions on the treatment of individual patients.

Prostate Cancer: Drugs

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2023 to Question 4318 on Prostate Cancer: Drugs, if he will make a comparative assessment of the (a) decision-making criteria for and (b) process to approve the use of abiraterone acetate to treat locally advanced high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer in (i) NHS England and NHS Wales and (ii) NHS Scotland.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2023 to Question 4318 on Prostate Cancer: Drugs, when does she expect NHS England to complete their consideration of a clinical policy proposal for abiraterone as a treatment option for patients newly diagnosed with high risk, non-metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

Andrew Stephenson: There are no plans for a comparative assessment to be made. Health is a devolved matter and decisions on access to medicines in Scotland and Wales are a matter for the devolved administrations.NHS England sent a policy proposition to stakeholders on 29 November 2023 regarding abiraterone acetate and prednisolone for high-risk, hormone sensitive, non-metastatic prostate cancer, and has invited feedback by 14 December 2023. The completion of NHS England’s consideration will depend on the feedback received from stakeholders which will help inform the final draft of the proposition, and the outcome of the impact assessment which will inform the timing of decision making.

Rheumatology: Consultants

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November to Question 3424 on Rheumatology: Consultants and Nurses, what (a) methodology and (b) criteria were used to determine the required increase in specialist training places to meet NHS demand for full time equivalent grade 1 paediatric and adult rheumatology consultants.

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2023 to Question 3424 on Rheumatology: Consultants and Nurses, how her Department determines the commensurate increase in specialist training places to meet NHS demands without an estimation of vacancies for Full Time Equivalent Grade 1 (a) adult and (b) paediatric rheumatology consultants.

Andrew Stephenson: Over the last 30 years, the National Health Service has developed sophisticated modelling techniques to guide the allocation of resources against patient need. The current resource allocations methodology considers over 150 separate factors to determine population-weighted healthcare need for each NHS integrated care board.This methodology is combined with NHS England’s, and previously Health Education England’s, demand forecasting model that utilises hospital episode statistics alongside Office for National Statistics population projections to understand future growth in demand for key hospital services in each region and is further adjusted based on regional deprivation.This provides a robust method for understanding the distribution of future healthcare demand on the medical workforce, including paediatric and adult rheumatology consultants. The model provides a reliable and transparent methodology on which to base the distribution of trainee posts across regions which can be revisited if changes occur.

Vitamin B12: Vaccination

Jane Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department is making funding available to (a) pharmaceutical companies and (b) researchers to conduct medical studies into B12 injectables.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR is not currently supporting pharmaceutical companies or research specifically on injectable vitamin B12.The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including injectable vitamin B12. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made based on the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Department of Health and Social Care: Official Hospitality

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much their Department spent on hospitality in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

Andrew Stephenson: We do not routinely publish this data, as has been the case under successive administrations. All business units within the Department have a responsibility to keep official hospitality costs as low as possible and demonstrate good value for money.Details of ministerial and senior official hospitality are published on a quarterly basis and are available on GOV.UK.

NHS: Drugs

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether any homecare medicines services providers have been placed in an escalation process since May 2023.

Andrew Stephenson: The National Homecare Medicines Committee has not placed any providers in an escalation process since May 2023.

Skin Diseases: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Getting it Right First Time's report on Dermatology, published in August 2021, what progress she has made on the implementation of recommendation 13a.

Andrew Stephenson: The Getting it Right First Time Programme (GIRFT) approached the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and collaboratively identified the issues around uptake of new drugs and the variation in use of biologics.As part of the GIRFT peer review process, NHS England has recommended the adoption of consultant pharmacists who can more quickly implement NICE guidance on biologics, use of generics where appropriate and new drugs where beneficial. NHS England has also developed data metrics for the Model Health System which look at the use of both individual and grouped biologics. These will show the variation in prescribing across the country.

Domestic Accidents: Community Health Services

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the number of level (a) one and (b) two fall incidents community health services responded to in each of the last 12 months.

Helen Whately: Data is not collected on the number of level one and level two falls incidents that community health services respond to. The following table shows the number of urgent community response (UCR) referrals for falls:MonthNumber of UCR referrals for fallsAugust 20232470July 20232330June 20232365May 20232075April 20231695March 20231625February 20231430January 20231730December 20221855November 20221245October 20221420September 20221290 UCR data is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/2-hour-urgent-community-response/

Mental Health Services: Children

Alistair Strathern: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2023 to Question 4599 on Mental Health Services: Children, how many people under the age of 18 have been waiting over six months to access CAHMS support in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.

Maria Caulfield: The information requested is not collected at constituency level. The following table shows at a district authority level the number of children and young people aged between zero and 17 years old referred to specialist children and young people’s mental health services and waiting more than 182 days for a first contact at the end of August 2023:District AuthorityNumber of children waiting more than 182 days (rounded to the nearest five)Central Bedfordshire185Bedford95Luton125Source: Mental Health Services Dataset, NHS England

Mental Health Act 1983

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it remains her Department's policy to reform the Mental Health Act 1983.

Maria Caulfield: We remain committed to bringing forward a Mental Health Bill when Parliamentary time allows us to do so. In the meantime, we are already taking forward wider commitments to improve the care and treatment of people detained under the Mental Health Act, including piloting models of Culturally Appropriate Advocacy. These pilots will provide tailored support to people from ethnic minority communities and improve their experience of being treated under the Mental Health Act.This is alongside our wider commitment to invest at least £2.3 billion of additional funding a year by March 2024 to expand and transform mental health services within the National Health Service, so an extra two million people can get mental health support.

Maternity Services: Safety

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Final report of the Ockenden review, published on 30 March 2022, what steps she is taking to increase levels of safety in (a) antenatal and (b) maternity care; and whether the recommendations of that review have been accepted.

Maria Caulfield: The final report of the Independent Review of Maternity Services at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust contained 64 local actions to the trust, 15 Immediate and Essential Actions for the maternity system and three key asks for the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The Department accepted all the recommendations made in the report.Since publication of the inquiry’s interim report in December 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has updated its guidelines on antenatal care. The guideline covers the routine antenatal care that women and their babies should receive and aims to ensure that pregnant women are offered regular checkups, information, and support.NHS England also published a Three Year Plan for maternity and neonatal services in March 2023, which brings together the recommendations from independent reviews of maternity services in Shrewsbury and Telford and East Kent. The plan sets out how the National Health Service will make maternity and neonatal care safer, more personalised, and more equitable for women, babies, and families.To improve maternity and neonatal care, there has also been an additional investment of £165 million per year since 2021. This is expected to rise to an additional £186 million per year from 2024/25.

Bowel Cancer: Screening

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when she plans to reduce the minimum age for bowel screening to 50.

Andrew Stephenson: NHS England started the lowering of age for bowel cancer screening in April 2021. The following table shows the rollout plan for the bowel screening, keeping in mind that the timeline may differ slightly from region to region:Cohort age at first invitationYear invitations start56 years old2021/2258 years old2022/2354 years old2023/2450 and 52 years old2024/25

Care Workers and Health Services: Migrant Workers

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Oral Statement from the Secretary of State for the Home Department of 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration, Official Report, column 41, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the changes to visas announced in that Statement on the (a) mental health and (b) general well-being of workers in health and care roles.

Andrew Stephenson: No assessment has been made of the potential impact of the changes to visas announced in the Statement of 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration on the mental health and general well-being of workers in health and care roles.

Department of Health and Social Care: Recruitment

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much her Department spent on external recruitment consultants in the (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23 financial year.

Andrew Stephenson: The information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. External recruitment agencies and search firms are an important resource which support the Civil Service's ability to recruit, particularly to find talented people, in the right places, with the right capabilities to deliver for the people of the United Kingdom. The Civil Service has developed several commercial frameworks which provide transparency, high quality services and value for money.

Neurology: Greater Manchester

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to tackle the backlog in neurology appointments in Greater Manchester.

Andrew Stephenson: Cutting the National Health Service waiting lists, including for neurology, is one of the Government’s top priorities. To facilitate this across elective services, we are increasing activity, with plans to spend more than £8 billion from 2022/23 to 2024/25, and expanding capacity though creating a new network of community diagnostic centres. We are managing demand through specialised advice in primary care and giving patients more control over where they receive their care, and we are increasing productivity; through transforming outpatient services and developing new surgical hubs to increase theatre productivity, funded by part of £1.5 billion and working actively with trusts to support and challenge on their performance.The Northern Care Alliance is the main provider for neurology care across Greater Manchester with a small number of patients under the care of Manchester University Foundation Trust for children and young people, and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust for long term neurology conditions service provided by NCA.These trusts are currently working hard on validating waiting lists and keeping in regular contact with all waiting patients to ensure they are informed and supported while they wait for care. There has been a significant reduction in long waiting patient numbers that has been driven through several initiatives, including some small transfers of patients to other providers, but mainly through introducing external neurologists to see patients within the service at weekends and through their own clinical team doing additional work at the weekend.

NHS England: Equality

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are employed in equality, diversity and inclusion roles by NHS England.

Andrew Stephenson: NHS England, Health Education England, and NHS Digital have legally merged into the new NHS England. NHS England is still in the process of completing the merger. As part of the merger, NHS England has cut the number of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) posts by more than a third. The remaining posts help the National Health Service meet its legal duties set out for public bodies in the Equality Act 2010, through the public sector equality duty and the principles that guide the NHS Constitution. Areas include discrimination against disabled staff and sexual safety of staff.

Royal Oldham Hospital: Concrete

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of replacing the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in Royal Oldham Hospital.

Jim McMahon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her Department's timescale is for removing the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in Royal Oldham Hospital.

Andrew Stephenson: The National Health Service has a comprehensive mitigation plan in place for hospital buildings with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), including significant funding worth £698 million from 2021 to 2025 for trusts to put in place necessary remediation and failsafe measures. NHS England is working closely with all affected trusts, including Royal Oldham, to develop and deliver plans to remove all identified RAAC. Royal Oldham Hospital has so far received £125,000 in funding to deal with RAAC mitigation. Funding allocations are made on an annual basis and funding for RAAC remediation works beyond 2025 will be considered in the next spending review.The Government has committed to eradicating RAAC from the publicly owned NHS estate by 2035, including Royal Oldham Hospital.

Department of Health and Social Care: Correspondence

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will respond to the letter from Andrew Cox, Senior Coroner for the coroner area of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, of 23 November 2023 on matters revealed by inquests giving rise to concern.

Maria Caulfield: The Department will respond to the Regulation 28 report issued by Coroner Cox within the statutory timeframe.

Pancreatin

Sir Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to help secure the supply of Creon 25000 for patients ordinarily prescribed that pharmaceutical.

Andrew Stephenson: The Department was made aware of a short-term supply issue with Creon 25000 gastro-resistant capsules, in September and November 2023. The supplier has since confirmed that it is back in stock, and we are not aware of any further issues with supply of Creon.The Department has well-established processes for managing and mitigating medicine supply issues, which involve working with the pharmaceutical industry, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, NHS England, the devolved governments, and others operating in the supply chain to help ensure patients have access to the treatments they need.

Medical Equipment: Waste Disposal

Ian Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking with NHS England to reduce disposals of medical equipment to landfill.

Andrew Stephenson: As set out in the Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service report, published in October 2020, the National Health Service is committed to reducing its environmental impact, including by cutting its carbon emissions and increasing the reuse and recycling of medical equipment. This commitment is then applied locally, taking into account local priorities, through local Green Plans. NHS England also collaborates with NHS Supply Chain to increase availability of reusable products and supports local NHS organisations through the publication of guidance and resources to help with implementing changes.As an example, the NHS has set out ambitions to expand existing walking aid refurbishment schemes. Arrangements for the return and reuse of walking aids are managed locally, to be adapted to the local context, and several NHS trusts already have local return and reuse schemes with over 200 return sites now featured on the Recycle Now website.NHS England is supporting local NHS organisations to increase walking aid return rates. Initiatives include: running a national walking aid return campaign as part of recycling week between 16 and 22 October 2023; providing guidance to trusts on setting up or enhancing reuse schemes and planning communication activities; providing visual material to help communicate locally about the schemes in a consistent way; and directly supporting trusts with their pilot schemes.Regarding further equipment types, improving resource efficiency forms a key part of the Government’s Medical Technology Strategy, published in February 2023, where we are working with industry, the health and care sector, and academic partners to improve the extent to which we reuse, remanufacture, and recycle many different medical equipment types.

Prescriptions: Pregnancy

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of communications by the NHS on access to maternity exemption certificates for pregnant women.

Andrea Leadsom: Both the NHS Business Services Authority and the National Health Service promote maternity exemption certificates to professionals and patients to ensure both groups are aware of the entitlement to exemption from health costs and the need for a maternity exemption certificate to do so. We are working with NHSBSA on communications to ensure that midwives, general practitioners, and other healthcare practitioners are aware of their obligations to apply for maternity exemption certificates on behalf of the patient and ensure that individuals are aware of the entitlement, and that information is provided to expectant mothers. The certificates are also promoted through social media, online resources, media releases and through healthcare bulletins.Information on how to apply for a maternity exemption certificate is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/who-can-get-free-prescriptions/

Prescriptions: Pregnancy

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of backdating maternity exemption certificates to the start of pregnancy (a) if an application is made later in the pregnancy and (b) in all circumstances.

Andrea Leadsom: A maternity exemption certificate can be applied for as soon as a healthcare professional has confirmed the pregnancy or that the patient has given birth, including still-birth, in the previous twelve months. The certificate is automatically backdated one month from the date the application is received by the NHS Business Services Authority.

Care Workers and Health Services: Migrant Workers

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Oral Statement from the Secretary of State for the Home Department of 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration, Official Report, column 41, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to visas announced in that Statement on the number of vacancies in health and care roles.

Helen Whately: My rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, has committed to put estimates of the impact of these announcements in the House of Commons Library. This will be done in due course.It is important to note vacancies are not necessarily a good measure of workforce capacity or of levels of need in social care. Vacancies include posts that are vacant in the short term due to recent or anticipated staff turnover and posts created by employers who want to expand and grow their businesses rather than only roles needed to meet statutory entitlements.

Treasury

Disability: Finance

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Autumn Statement 2023 on the finances of people with complex disabilities.

Gareth Davies: The government announced the ‘Back to Work’ plan to support the long-term sick and disabled to stay in employment or return to employment, which can be crucial to improving an individual’s financial situation. This included expanding work and health support, such as the Universal Support programme, NHS Talking therapies and Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for severe mental illness.

Treasury: Official Hospitality

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much their Department spent on hospitality in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

Gareth Davies: We do not routinely publish this data, as has been the case under successive administrations. All Business Units within HM Treasury have a responsibility to keep official hospitality costs as low as possible and demonstrate good value for money. Details of ministerial and senior official hospitality are published on a quarterly basis, and are available on GOV.UK

Supermarkets: Prices

Jim Shannon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether officials in his Department have had discussions with representatives of (a) supermarkets and (b) other retail outlets on steps being taken to mitigate the impact of increased costs on the prices of goods for consumers.

Gareth Davies: As part of the process of policy development and delivery, Treasury Ministers and officials meet a wide variety of organisations, including retail businesses, supermarkets, and their representative organisations, to discuss a range of issues including inflation. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at gov.uk: HMT ministers' meetings, hospitality, gifts and overseas travel - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Inflation was 4.6% in October, which is the lowest rate in two years. The government is fully committed to supporting the Bank of England get inflation back down to 2%. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecasts that government policies in the Autumn Statement will help reduce inflation to 2.8% by the end of 2024, and return to target in the first half of 2025.

Cash Dispensing

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with the Financial Conduct Authority on the potential merits of taking into account the specific needs of local communities when setting minimum cash access standards rather than using geographic criteria.

Bim Afolami: The government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those who may be in vulnerable groups. The government legislated through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 to establish a new legislative framework to protect access to cash. This establishes the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as the lead regulator for access to cash and provides it with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities. In determining what constitutes reasonable provision, the legislation requires the FCA to have regard to a government policy statement, any local deficiencies in cash access that it has identified and considers to have significant impacts and any other matters as it considers appropriate. The government published a policy statement earlier this year. This stated that consideration should be taken of the degree to which services meet local needs in relation to both business and personal use. The government’s policy statement is available at: Cash Access Policy Statement. The FCA is currently holding a consultation on its proposed regulatory approach ahead of this coming into effect by Q3 2024.

World Economy

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had recent discussions with the International Monetary Fund on levels of national global debt.

Bim Afolami: As the Government’s lead on sovereign debt, HM Treasury maintains regular engagement with the International Monetary Fund on a bilateral basis, as well as in international fora – including the G7, G20, and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable – to discuss global debt levels and coordinate on strengthening the international debt architecture.

Personal Taxation

James Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the average worker paid in personal taxes in each financial year since 2010-11.

James Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2023: National Insurance Factsheet, published on 22 November 2023, how his Department calculated that an average worker will pay over £1,000 less in personal taxes than they otherwise would have done in 2024-25.

James Murray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contributions of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 22 November 2023, Official Report, column 360, and 30 November 2023, Official Report, column 1087, what calculations his Department has used to estimate that taxes for the average worker will have reduced by £1,000 since 2010.

Nigel Huddleston: Thanks to the cut to employee National Insurance contributions (NICs) announced at the Autumn Statement and to above-inflation increases to starting thresholds since 2010, an average worker in 24-25 will pay over £1,000 less in personal taxes than they otherwise would have done. The calculations underlying this statistic are based on public information, including a published estimate of average earnings. They are robust and could be replicated by an external analyst. The calculations are on a same-year basis against a counterfactual, to isolate the effect of policy changes on tax liabilities. Comparisons over time would include the effects of earnings growth on cash totals of tax due, given the progressive personal tax system. It is straightforward to calculate how much the average worker paid in personal taxes in each financial year since 2010-11 using published information.

Migration: Forecasts

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 31 of the Office for Budget Responsibility's publication entitled Economic and fiscal outlook- November 2023, published on 22 November 2023, whether his Department holds information on the assumptions underpinning the forecast of future net migration.

Gareth Davies: The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing forecasts for the UK economy and public finances and the underlying assumptions. In its November 2023 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the OBR set out its forecast for net migration, and the assumptions it is based on. This is available here: CP 944 – Office for Budget Responsibility – Economic and fiscal outlook – November 2023 (obr.uk)

Pay

Geraint Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on (a) how many people earn less than £38,700 a year in (i) Wales, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland and (iv) Northern Ireland and (b) what proportion of people earn less than that sum in each constituency in Wales.

Nigel Huddleston: HMRC does not publish this information. Statistics on employment income are published annually as part of the Survey of Personal Incomes. Outturn data for the tax year 2020 to 2021 is the latest available. Specifically, Table 3.15 contains the latest constituency-level breakdown of taxpayer numbers. This covers individuals with employment income by Parliamentary Constituency. Breakdowns by country and region are also available in this table.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Redundancy Pay

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney General, whether any severance payments have been made by her Department to Ministers other than to the Rt hon. Member for Torridge and West Devon since 1 January 2015.

Victoria Prentis: Apart from the severance payment made to the Rt Hon. Member for Torridge and West Devon, the Attorney General’s Office has made three other severance payments since 2015.

Ministry of Defence

Shipbuilding

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Refresh to the National Shipbuilding Strategy on (a) regional economic development and (b) job creation.

James Cartlidge: The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSbS) Refresh published on 10 March 2022, is designed to deliver over the long term and reflects well over £4 billion of investment in UK shipbuilding over the next three years. The National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) and the Ministry of Defence have undertaken a Regional Impact Assessment to better understand the economic footprint of the UK shipbuilding industry, which in turn has helped inform Government’s knowledge of the economic impacts of building military vessels domestically. As a result of the Ministry of Defence’s investment in the Type 26, Type 31 and Fleet Solid Support programmes alone there has been significant job creation or planned creation. This has been outlined in the table below: ProgrammeCompanyDirect JobsUK Supply ChainType 26 (Govan)BAE Systems1,7002,300Type 31 (Rosyth)Babcock1,2501,250Fleet Solid Support (Belfast)Harland & Wolff1,200800

Ministry of Defence: Apprentices

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2023 to Question 71 on Defence: Training, how many apprentices were recruited by his Department to (a) digital, (b) nuclear and (c) analytics professions in each year since 2019.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ministry of Defence: ICT

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected project end date for the MODnet Evolve programme was in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected project end date for the New Style of Information Technology Deployed programme was in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

James Cartlidge: I refer the right hon. Member to my answers on 11 September 2023 to Questions 195741 and 195744, and my letter of 25 October 2023 on the project dates for the MODnet Evolve programme and New Style of Information Technology Deployed programme.UIN 195741 (docx, 26.1KB)Follow up Letter (pdf, 48.5KB)

Shipbuilding

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has taken recent steps to develop a framework for evaluating the impact of the policy paper entitled Refresh to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, published on 10 March 2022.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the progress on the implementation of the Refresh to the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

James Cartlidge: I refer the right hon. Member to the response I gave to the right hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones) to PQ93 on 14 November 2023.

Shipbuilding: Innovation

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps to encourage collaboration between (a) industry, (b) academia and (c) research institutions to promote innovation in shipbuilding.

James Cartlidge: The National Shipbuilding Office (NSO) works closely with Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK) to encourage innovation and collaboration across the sector and between research institutions, academia and industry. The NSO has funded a comprehensive study by MarRI-UK of the UK’s academic capability and capacity for shipbuilding and a report will be published shortly.

Caribbean and Guyana: Armed Forces

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to deploy (a) Armed Forces personnel to Guyana and (b) Royal Navy warships to the Caribbean in the context of the border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana.

James Heappey: We are keeping the situation under close review and have a range of options that could be deployed with the agreement of the Government of Guyana, including the Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMS TRENT.

Caribbean and South America: Armed Forces

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Armed Forces personnel are deployed to (a) Guyana, (b) South America and (c) the Caribbean.

James Heappey: For force protection reasons we cannot provide precise numbers of deployed personnel in this case, including the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB), and on the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island through British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI). Defence’s permanent presence across these areas is also provided by our resident Defence Attaché sections based in: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Jamaica. These teams also have non-residential responsibility for a range of other countries in the region with Guyana falling under our Caribbean team. Additionally, the Royal Navy have a persistent maritime presence in the South Atlantic and the Caribbean through two Offshore Patrol Vessels.

Cyprus: RAF Akrotiri

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK military need to clear (a) RAF flights and (b) US Air Force flights taking off from RAF Akrotiri with central government in Cyprus.

James Heappey: As referenced in my answer to Question 3985, the Ministry of Defence routinely engages with the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) on matters relating to the Sovereign Base Areas. This includes where appropriate, informing the RoC of flights into and from RAF Akrotiri, although there is no formal requirement to do so.

Cyprus: Military Bases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to visit the sovereign base areas in (a) Akrotiri and (b) Dhekelia in the next six months.

James Heappey: The Secretary of State for Defence routinely visits UK Overseas Territories, including the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

Ministry of Defence: ICT

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for the New Style of Information Technology Deployed programme were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

James Cartlidge: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 October 2023 to Question 200760.Question 200760 (docx, 24.8KB)

Army: Procurement

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2023 to Question 1042 on Army, how many meetings his Department held with industry partners on the 20-year investment plan since the publication of the policy paper entitled Land Industrial Strategy, published on 18 May 2022; and when these meetings took place.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many meetings has the Minister of State for Defence Procurement held on the 20-year investment plan set out in the Land Industrial Strategy since his appointment.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 12 of the Land Industrial Strategy, what recent progress his Department has made on 20-year comprehensive investment plan.

James Cartlidge: There is planning provision within the Army’s Capability Investment Plan (CIP) that considers the next 20 years. This is not a formally endorsed plan nor is there any intent to publish externally. As outlined in the Land Industrial Strategy, the Army is committed to ensuring industry is kept up to date on the Army’s approach to its strategic balance of investment. An update was provided to the Land Enterprise Working Group (LEWG) on 15 November 2023 with further engagement scheduled for 23 January 2024. The LEWG has met three times to date. This work is complementary to both the Defence Supplier Forum and the MOD’s Strategic Partnering Programme.

Army: Procurement

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the policy paper entitled Land Industrial Strategy, published on 18 May 2022, how much funding his Department has provided for (a) innovation, (b) research and (c) experimentation in the areas set out on page 21 of that strategy since May 2022.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the policy paper entitled Land Industrial Strategy, published on 18 May 2022, how much funding his Department has provided for (a) innovation, (b) research and (c) experimentation in each of the areas set out on page 21 of that strategy in each financial year since 2019-20.

James Cartlidge: The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Land Enterprise Working Group

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2023 to Question 4358 on Land Enterprise Working Group: Membership, how many times the Land Enterprise Working Group has met as of 7 December 2023; and when was the most recent meeting.

James Cartlidge: As at 7 December 2023 the Land Enterprise Working Group has met three times. The most recent meeting was held on 15 November 2023.

Defence: Costs

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for Project AURORA were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for the Core Production Capability programme were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for the Dreadnought programme were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for the MENSA project were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for the PEGASUS Deployed programme were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected project end date was for the TEUTATES programme in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) Infrastructure and Projects Authority and ( b) Senior Responsible Owner rating was of the AURORA programme in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) Infrastructure and Projects Authority and (b) Senior Responsible Owner rating was of the MENSA Programme in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) Infrastructure and Projects Authority and (b) Senior Responsible Owner rating was of the PEGASUS Programme in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) Infrastructure and Projects Authority and (b) Senior Responsible Owner rating was of the Teutates Programme in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

James Cartlidge: I refer the right hon. Member to my letter to him dated 25 October 2023.A copy of the letter was placed in the Library of the House.Defence Nuclear Enterprise Letter (pdf, 87.9KB)

Armed Forces: Housing

Luke Pollard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many calls related to damp and mould issues in Forces accommodation were received by the National Service Centre in each month in 2022.

James Cartlidge: The Pinnacle National Service Centre (NSC) records calls reporting damp and/ or mould. It does not separately record calls reporting damp and mould. The Pinnacle NSC holds figures for calls relating to damp and/or mould from April 2022 when the Future Defence Infrastructure Service contract began. The number of calls in each month from April 2022 to December 2022 relating to damp and/or mould issues, is shown in the table below:  MonthNumber of Damp and/or Mould calls receivedApril 2022220May 2022211June 2022165July 2022139August 2022169September 2022219October 2022331November 2022720December 2022847

National Shipbuilding Office

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2023 to Question 3703 on National Shipbuilding Office, what the proportion of UK content required was under each of the contracts.

James Cartlidge: This Government upholds the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2013. Therefore, a minimum 10% of any public procurement bid evaluation should pay regard to delivering “social value”. Going further, in the National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh 2022, the Defence Secretary committed MOD shipbuilding procurements to increase this to a minimum of 20% for new programmes. Social value policy is a proven tool for delivering downstream benefits to the UK in skills, supply chain opportunities, green technology, and innovation.

F-35 Aircraft: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for the Lightning programme were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

James Cartlidge: Portfolio data is published annually in support of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Annual Report which includes a budget baseline and the latest HM Treasury approved estimates in respect of whole life costs. The reports are published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-dataThe financial data for the Lightning Programme in the March 2023 IPA report is withheld under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests).

Shipbuilding: Competition

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the competitiveness of the shipbuilding sector within the defence industry in international markets.

James Cartlidge: I refer the hon Member to the response provided by my hon. Friend Nusrat Ghani in the Department for Trade and Business in response to question 4823.

Defence: Recruitment

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department is taking steps to help encourage (a) newly-qualified engineering graduates and (b) technicians to join the defence sector.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help improve levels of engineering skills in the defence industry.

James Cartlidge: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an established Head of Profession for Defence Engineering who is engaged across the MOD, defence industry and wider government to simplify and optimise graduate and apprenticeship applications processes within defence, enhancing the inflow of these critical skills. In addition to the established Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship Scheme (DSUS) we are engaged with the Engineering Council and Professional Engineering Institutes (PEIs) to develop Defence’s reputation as a lead employer for engineers and technicians of the UK.

Shipbuilding: Contracts

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contracts his Department awarded to industry for shipbuilding since 2010; and what the value was of each contract.

James Cartlidge: The table below shows shipbuilding contracts awarded by the Ministry of Defence since 2010, with the contract values detailed at Contract Award.  ProgrammeContract ValueCompany/Shipyard Date of AwardFleet Solid Support (FSS) ships£1.6bn (subject to inflation) for 3 shipsNavantia UK on behalf of Team Resolute (BMT, Harland & Wolff & Navantia) - 2023Type 26 Frigates£3.7bn Batch 1 for 3 ships £4.2bn Batch 2 for 5 shipsBAE Systems 2017 and 2022Type 31 FrigatesContract total over £1.2bn. £250m average production cost per ship. Design and Build contract for 5 shipsBabcock 2019River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels Batch 2Total Contract value £635m including support costs. Manufacture and support contract for 5 ships, built in two batches.BAE Systems Contracts awarded in 2014 and 2016Tide Class - Military Afloat Reach & Sustainability (MARS) TankersBuild contract for £452m for 4 shipsDSME 2012 Since 2015 the Ministry of Defence has also brought into service the two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, the culmination of a £6 billion programme of UK shipbuilding, and the Tide Class of Royal Fleet Auxiliaries providing around £150 million of work to UK shipyards and other suppliers.

Electronic Warfare: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for the Maritime Electronic Warfare programme were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for the Mine Hunting Capability programme were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

James Cartlidge: The Whole Life Costs of these programmes are commercially sensitive and it would therefore be inappropriate to provide the details requested.

Shipbuilding: Finance

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 31 of the policy paper entitled Refresh to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, published on 10 March 2022, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the level of his Department's spending on shipbuilding on the (a) sustainability and (b) competitiveness of the shipbuilding market.

James Cartlidge: The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSbS) Refresh published on 10 March 2022, is designed to deliver over the long term and reflects well over £4 billion of investment in UK shipbuilding over the next three years. The 30 Year Cross-Government Shipbuilding Pipeline, established in the Refresh, is designed to drive sustainability and competitiveness in the sector through providing industry a clear demand signal of Government’s procurement programmes.

Armed Forces: Housing

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected project end date for the Future Defence Infrastructure Services programme was in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for the Future Defence Infrastructure Services programme were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

James Cartlidge: There has been no movement in the projected end date for the Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) contracts between 2022 and 2023. The projected end date for the contracts can be found in the table below: ContractEnd DateFDIS Built Estate Scotland & Northern Ireland14 December 2028FDIS Built Estate Central31 January 2029FDIS Built Estate South West31 January 2029FDIS Built Estate South East31 March 2029Regional Accommodation Maintenance Services North28 February 2029Regional Accommodation Maintenance Services Central28 February 2029Regional Accommodation Maintenance Services South West28 February 2029Regional Accommodation Maintenance Services South East28 February 2029National Accommodation Management Services28 February 2029Training Estate Services Contract30 November 2030 All contracts include the ability to extend for up to three years. The 2022 and 2023 projected whole life costs of the Future Defence Infrastructure Service contracts can be found in the table below: Future Defence Infrastructure Services Contracts2022 Projected Whole Life Costs2023 Projected Whole Life CostsBuilt Estate x4£1,615 miilion£1,750 millionAccommodation x5£690 million£1,047 millionTraining Estate Support£597 million£728 million The 2023 whole life costs of the core contract for accommodation includes £242 million of grounds maintenance. This element was included in the core contract with effect from 1 April 2023. With this exception, the principal driver for the increase in cost from the original whole life costs of the core contract to now, is inflation.

Ajax Vehicles: Procurement

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the projected whole life costs for the Armoured Cavalry 2025 programme were in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.

James Cartlidge: Portfolio data is published annually in support of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) Annual Report which includes a budget baseline and the latest HM Treasury approved estimates in respect of whole life costs. The reports are published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/major-projects-data

Armed Forces: Social Media

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to increase the number of hours of training for armed forces personnel on the security risks of using private social media.

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he will take steps to update military law to ensure the secure use of social media by armed forces personnel.

Dr Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence does not have any plans to update military law regarding the use of social media by Armed Forces personnel. Policy and guidance on the use of social media is set out in the MOD’s Acceptable Use Policy (JSP 740), which is available to all armed forces personnel. The MOD recognises the importance of educating personnel on the security risks of social media and runs both security awareness campaigns and online learning programs. The MOD has recently introduced new cyber security training for all personnel that includes a module on social media and will continue to use different communication means to reinforce the message.

Israel: Military Aid

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2023 to Question 2667 on Israel: Military Aid, whether any (a) lethal and (b) other military equipment other than medical supplies has been provided to Israel since 7 October 2023.

James Heappey: Since 7 October 2023, the UK Government has provided no lethal or military equipment other than medical supplies to Israel.

Home Office

Visas: Overseas Students

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many sponsored study visas his Department granted (a) in total and (b) by student nationality in each year since 2005.

Tom Pursglove: The Home Office publishes data on visas in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of Sponsored study applications granted, by nationality, are published in table Vis_D02 of the Entry clearance visas applications and outcomes detailed dataset.Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates up to, and including, 2023 Q3 (July to September).Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Immigration Controls: Wales

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Oral Statement of 4 December 2024 on Legal Migration, Official Report, column 41-43, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) visa changes and (b) new immigration rules on migration to each constituency in Wales.

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of migration into Wales on Welsh (a) businesses and (b) economic growth.

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Oral Statement of 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration, Official Report, columns 41-43, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the changes to immigration rules announced in that Statement on the hospitality sector in Wales.

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Oral Statement of 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration, Official Report, columns 41-43, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the changes to immigration rules announced in that Statement on higher education institutions in Wales.

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Oral Statement on 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration, Official Report, columns 41-43, if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State on the potential impact of those proposals on gender equality in levels of legal migration; and if he will undertake an equality impact assessment of the proposals.

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed (a) visa changes and (b) new immigration rules on women.

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Oral Statement of 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration, Official Report, column 41-43, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the changes to (a) visa and (b) immigration rules on the hospitality industry.

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Oral Statement of 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration, Official Report, column 41-43, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the changes to (a) visa and (b) immigration rules on seasonal industries, broken down by industry.

Tom Pursglove: Our Points Based System enables the Government to prioritise the skills and talent we need to help our economy grow and support our NHS, while encouraging investment in, and protecting, our own resident workforce. In arriving at this package of measures, we have been mindful of the need to balance the impacts on economic growth and the needs of the labour market. The Government regularly considers policy proposals and the impacts these will have. The policy proposals do not directly discriminate against people on the basis of the protected characteristics, there may be some indirect impacts. We consider the measures to be proportionate means of achieving the legitimate aims of managing immigration, attracting high-skilled individuals, controlling our borders and protecting the UK taxpayer.

Extradition

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign criminals have been extradited to the UK in each of the last five years.

Tom Tugendhat: The Home Office deals with extradition requests to and from territories outside of the European Union. The National Crime Agency holds the data in relation to requests between the UK and EU countries.In respect of extraditions dealt with by the Home Office, the following table provides the information sought:Year201820192020202120222023 (to date)No. of foreign nationals17136754The Home Office processes requests for extradition for individuals who have either been convicted or who are accused of a crime but have yet to proceed through a criminal trial.All Home Office figures are from local management information and have not been quality assured to the level of published National Statistics. As such, they should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

Defending Democracy Taskforce

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to publish a report on the work of the Defending Democracy Taskforce.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to publish a list of civil society groups that have worked with the Defending Democracy Taskforce.

Tom Tugendhat: The Defending Democracy Taskforce is an enduring government function which seeks to protect the democratic integrity of the UK by reducing the threat of foreign interference.There are no current plans to publish a report on the work of the Taskforce. The communication and engagement work of the Taskforce is currently focussed on direct engagement with relevant bodies, including to raise awareness of threats and promote mitigations. Recently, that has included engagement with members of both Houses of Parliament as well as representatives of the devolved administrations.

Visas: Families

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his proposal to increase the income thresholds for spousal visas would apply to renewals of existing visas.

Stuart C McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his oral contribution of 4 December 2023, Official Report, column 41, if he will make it his policy to apply the existing minimum income requirement of £18,600 for family visas to people already in the UK on a family visa and who seek further or indefinite leave to remain.

Tom Pursglove: The revised minimum income requirement will be implemented in spring 2024. The Government will set out any transitional provisions associated with the increase in the minimum income requirement in due course. Any applications already submitted will be considered in line with the existing policy.

Electronic Travel Authorisations

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of applying the same exemptions as apply to the EU ETIAS scheme for airside transit visitors to the UK’s ETA scheme.

Tom Pursglove: One of the Government’s main priorities is to keep the UK safe. The Government is firmly committed to strengthening the UK’s border by ensuring that everyone wishing to travel to, or transit through, the UK (except British and Irish citizens) must seek permission in advance of travel.The ETA scheme, once fully rolled out, will close the current gap in advance permissions for non-visa nationals, visiting or transiting the UK.The information provided in an ETA application will be used to conduct checks and prevent anyone who poses a threat travelling to the UK.Whilst the EU has taken a different approach to airside transit passengers in their ETIAS scheme, many of our international partners with similar schemes, such as the US, New Zealand and Canada, do apply the requirements of their respective scheme to transit passengers.

Immigration Controls: EU Nationals

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what nationalities EU citizens who were refused entry at the UK border in 2023 were.

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what grounds for refusal under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules EU citizens were refused entry at the UK border in 2023.

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, of the EU citizens who were refused entry at the UK border in 2023, how many and what proportion had a pre-approved visa in place.

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether EU citizens who were refused entry at the border to the UK in 2023 will be able to reapply to travel to the UK.

Tom Pursglove: Border Force does not hold the data to questions 1 and 2 in an easily accessible format. The information requested could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. The Home Office publishes statistics on passengers refused entry at the border, by nationality, in table Stp_D01 of the ‘Passengers refused entry at the border detailed datasets’ as part of the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. The latest data relates to the end of September 2023.Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Data up to the end of December 2023 will be published on 29 February 2024.You asked whether EU citizens refused entry at the UK border in 2023 will be able to reapply to travel to the UK. Applications for permission to enter at the border are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the immigration rules. EU citizens should ensure they are properly documented for the purpose they are seeking to enter and check whether they need a visa before they travel. Guidance is available at www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa. EU citizens not holding required entry clearance must be refused entry under paragraphs 9.14.1 of Part 9 of the Immigration Rules – but they may apply for clearance and seek entry after having obtained the required clearance.

Visas: Gaza

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a family reunification visa scheme for people in Gaza.

Tom Pursglove: The UK government is monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza closely to ensure that it is able to respond appropriately.British citizens and those with settled status in the UK, together with their foreign national dependants may come to the UK provided that they have valid travel documents, and existing permission to enter or remain in the UK; or are non-visa nationals. They must also pass appropriate security checks.The government allows individuals with protection status in the UK to sponsor their partner or children to stay with or join them here through their refugee family reunion policy, provided they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country of origin to seek protection. Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules also provides a route to enter the UK as the parent of a child who is in the UK.Individuals who do not meet these criteria should apply for a visa to enable them to enter the UK in the normal way.The Home Office has not considered establishing a separate resettlement route for Palestinians to come to the UK. Since 2015, over half a million people have been offered safe and legal routes into the UK. Our approach is considered in the round, rather than on a crisis-by-crisis basis.UKVI is working closely with the FCDO in supporting family members of British nationals evacuated from Gaza who require a visa, signposting the necessary steps and expediting appointments at the Visa Application Centre.

Police

Alistair Strathern: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers per capita there were in (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency and (b) England in each of the last eight years.

Chris Philp: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the size of the police workforce in England and Wales on a bi-annual basis in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.These data are collected at Police Force Area (PFA) level only, and information at lower levels of geography, such as Parliamentary Constituencies is not collected.Table H4 of the data tables accompanying each publication, shows the number of full-time equivalent police officers as at 31 March per 100,000 resident population both nationally and at a PFA level.The latest data, as at 31 March 2023, shows there are 247 police officers per 100,000 resident population in England, and 205 in Bedfordshire.

Police: Motor Vehicles

Helen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police vehicles were allocated to (a) West Mercia Police and (b) each other police force in the last five years.

Chris Philp: The Home Office does not hold this information.Decisions on the number of police vehicles allocated to each force would be an operational matter for local Chief Officers to decide based upon local priorities in conjunction with their Police and Crime Commissioner.

Home Office: India

Navendu Mishra: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff from his Department are based in India.

Chris Philp: The Home Office has 67 members of staff based in India.

Arrests

Neil O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) UK nationals and (b) non-UK nationals have been arrested in each year since 2008.

Chris Philp: The Home Office collects and publishes arrests in England and Wales as part of the annual ‘Police Powers and ‘Procedures’ statistical bulletin, available here: Police powers and procedures England and Wales statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)However, data is not collected on the nationality of the person arrested.The Ministry of Justice collect and publish data on the nationality of the prison population, including the number of non-UK nationals in prison, as a part of their quarterly Offender Management statistics, available here: Offender management statistics quarterly - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Fire and Rescue Services: Carcinogens

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help protect firefighters from carcinogens.

Chris Philp: The health and safety of firefighters is of paramount importance.Fire and Rescue Authorities are responsible for the health and safety of firefighters and they should be mindful of emerging research.I have commissioned a literature review of published studies to understand their conclusions and determine next steps and I am engaging with the Department for Health and Social Care to explore these issues.

International Corruption Unit

Dame Margaret Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the National Crime Agency International Corruption Unit, what data his Department holds on the (a) number and proportion of permanent staff who were in the unit for more than 12 months, (b) staff attrition rate and (c) average of years of service in (i) anti-money laundering and (ii) anti-bribery in the (A) 2021-22 and (B) 2022-23 financial year.

Chris Philp: The International Corruption Unit (ICU) in the NCA investigates serious criminal allegations of bribery and corruption. In 2022/23 86% of staff had been in the unit for more than 12 months compared to 84% in 2021/22.The ICU staff annual attrition rate was recorded at 5.5% in both 2021/22 and 2022/23. I am unable to provide the average years of staff service.

Drugs: Misuse

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding was provided to Blue Blight Commercial as part of Operation Safeguard.

Chris Philp: BlueLight Commercial is company that is owned by the policing sector. It was set up to provide commercial expertise and assistance to policing and assist forces in identifying and making efficiency savings.The Government have not provided specific funding to BlueLight Commercial for their work on Operation Safeguard. BlueLight Commercial have direct arrangements with the policing sector to cover administrative costs they have incurred for the work they have delivered.

Police: Emergency Calls

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of the potential impact of reducing police callouts for people with mental ill health on the NHS.

Chris Philp: The National Partnership Agreement: Right Care, Right Person was published on 26 July 2023. The Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) approach is designed to end inappropriate police involvement in cases where people have health and/or social care needs, and to ensure that people receive support from the right person, with the right skills, training, and experience to best meet their needs.The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Home Office are monitoring the impact of the National Partnership Agreement (NPA) on mental health and policing. All integrated care boards and local authorities, together with their partners in the police and voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, have been asked to provide updates about their progress in producing plans for implementing the RCRP approach and any resource requirements to achieve this.DHSC and the Home Office are encouraging local areas to monitor the rollout of RCRP, to understand the impact on patients and the NHS and to mitigate against risks. I also meet regularly with the Minister for Mental Health to discuss policing and mental health, in particular the implementation of the RCRP approach.In addition, the Government is expanding mental health services to support people in crisis to receive the care they need, and to prevent them entering crisis in the first place.

Refugees: Homelessness

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will respond to the concerns raised by the Local Government Association in its press release entitled Thousands of refugees could be on the streets for Christmas without urgent government action, published on 28 November 2023.

Tom Pursglove: We are ensuring our cross government partners, such as the (DWP) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) are sighted on data to enable them to consider the impacts of increased decision making and effectively plan.  We are also working with DLUHC to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures. Our accommodation providers are directly working with local authorities to notify them when an individual is due to have their asylum support ended.The communications will be sent out shortly to all local authorities. The Home Office have decided that the last date for evictions this year will be 22 December. The Home Office will still be processing discontinuations throughout, but anything that falls on the 23 December through to and including 02 January 2024 will have their end of grace period moved to 03 January 2024 when evictions will recommence. This covers the whole festive period and the additional bank holiday in Scotland.

Biometric Residence Permits

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average processing time to print a Biometric Residence Permit after a decision to grant leave to remain has been issued.

Tom Pursglove: We aim to deliver a BRP within 7 working days of the immigration decision.BRPs are produced at the secure delivery facility (Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA)) within 48 hours of the production request being made and are collected by our secure delivery partner the same day. Our secure delivery partner (Royal Mail Group) aims to attempt to deliver the BRPs within 48 hours of receipt of the BRPs. This equates to a minimum of 5 working days from date of production request being made to delivery of the BRP. We have added an additional 2 working days to the timeline advised to applicants to allow us to resolve any production issues.In November, DVLA produced all BRPs within 24 hours of the production request. In November RMG attempted to deliver 99.1% of BRPs within 48 hours.

Migrants: Health Services and Housing

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that asylum seekers given leave to remain have adequate support to access (a) housing and (b) health services.

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that local authorities have adequate (a) funding and (b) support to house asylum seekers who are granted leave to remain.

Sarah Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the financial impact on local authorities of supporting asylum seekers who are granted leave to remain.

Tom Pursglove: All individuals who receive a positive decision on their asylum claim are eligible to support and accommodation for at least 28 days from when their decision is served.We offer move on support to all individuals through Migrant Help or their partner organisation in doing this. This includes providing advice on accessing the labour market, on applying for Universal Credit and signposting to local authorities for assistance with housing. Newly recognised refugees are entitled to housing assistance from their local authority and are treated as a priority need if they have children or are considered vulnerable. Individuals do not need to wait for their BRP to make a claim for benefits and are encouraged to do so as early as possible, if they require them. We are ensuring our cross government partners, such as the (DWP) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) are sighted on data to enable them to consider the impacts of increased decision making and effectively plan.  We are also working with DLUHC to ensure the right asylum decision data is being shared with local authorities to enable effective planning and to lessen the impact on existing homelessness and rough sleeping pressures. Our accommodation providers are directly working with local authorities to notify them when an individual is due to have their asylum support ended.

Immigration: Ukraine

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will make it his policy to (a) extend the leave to remain and (b) offer a route to indefinite leave to remain status for individuals on the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

Tom Pursglove: We are mindful that permission will start to expire, for the first arrivals under our Ukrainian schemes, from March 2025, and their need for certainty beyond that point to help them to plan ahead, for example if remaining in the UK, entering into rental agreements and living here independently. In line with the situation in Ukraine, working closely with the Ukrainian Government, as well as our international counterparts, we keep the need for a possible extension of sanctuary in the UK, beyond March 2025, under consistent review. The UK Government stands with Ukraine and firmly believes that Ukraine will be safe again. When it’s safe to do so, Ukraine will need the repatriation of its citizens to help recover and rebuild their economy and infrastructure. Our approach therefore has been to provide 36 months sanctuary under our Ukraine visas which are temporary and do not lead to settlement or indefinite leave to remain.

Visas: Ministers of Religion

Sam Tarry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his oral statement of 4 December 2023 on Legal Migration, Official Report, columns 41-43, whether he plans for the T2 Minister of Religion visa to be subject to the proposed increase in the skilled worker earnings salary threshold.

Tom Pursglove: The T2 Minister of Religion route does not have a salary threshold. Workers must receive pay and conditions at least equal to those given to settled workers in the same role and be compliant with, or exempt from, the national minimum wage. There are no plans to make any changes at this time.

Asylum: Applications

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the most common reason for rejecting an application for asylum was in each year since 2016.

Tom Pursglove: The Home Office publishes data on asylum applications in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release[ND1] ’. Data on outcomes of [ND2] asylum applications at initial decision, including refusals, is published in table Asy_D02 of the Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relates to the year ending September 2023. Please note that reason for refusal is not published but the data is broken down by type of refusal (e.g. third country refusal, certified refusal). Definitions of the types of refusals can be found in the ‘Definitions’ page of the workbook. Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar[ND3] ’.Please link to Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) [ND1]I believe this PQ relates to 'refusals' rather than 'withdrawals' of asylum applications. [ND2]Please link to immigration - Research and statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) [ND3]

Visas: Gaza

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will take steps to help ensure that the child dependants of UK residents who are in Gaza are able to apply for the UK visas to which they are entitled in the context of the closure of visa application centres.

Tom Pursglove: The UK Government is monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza closely to ensure that it is able to respond appropriately.British citizens and their foreign national dependants (spouse, unmarried/civil partner, child under 18), may come to the UK provided they have valid travel documents and existing permission to enter or remain in the UK; or are non-visa nationals.Individuals including child dependents of UK residents who do not meet these criteria will have to make a visa application, and enrol their biometrics at a visa application centre(VAC) / biometric enrolment location in a nearby country. VACs in nearby countries are operating as normal but applicants should only travel if it is safe to do so.Specific locations and operating hours can be found at the following website for UK Visa Application Centre | TLScontact (https://pos.tlscontact.com/default/palestine)

Cabinet Office

Overseas Trade: Southern Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of the value of the UK's trading relationship with (a) the Southern Africa Customs Union and (b) Mozambique.

John Glen: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 4 December is attached. UK Statistics Authority (pdf, 140.2KB)

Infrastructure: National Security

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to protect critical national infrastructure from cyber attacks.

Alex Burghart: The Government works constantly to strengthen the security and resilience of UK Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). The Cabinet Office works closely with Lead Government Departments to understand, manage and mitigate the impacts of cyber risk to their corresponding CNI sectors. Each CNI sector's security and resilience is overseen by a Lead Government Department, and it is that Department's Minister that will hold overall accountability for that CNI sector. The UK Government also works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the UK's national technical authority. NCSC are working with CNI operators to help them find the cyber exercising and incident management services they need from the marketplace by expanding the NCSC’s accredited scheme for Cyber Incident Response and introducing a new scheme for exercising. At Cyber UK 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that we have set specific and ambitious cyber resilience targets for all critical national infrastructure sectors to meet by 2025. This is alongside examining plans to bring more private sector businesses working in critical national infrastructure within the scope of cyber resilience regulations. This work will further our ambition to understand and manage cyber risk. Through the National Cyber Strategy, the Government is working to improve resilience to cyber risks across the UK economy and drive organisations to take action themselves as part of a whole of society approach. Over the past year, the Cabinet Office has been progressing foundational work to support the creation of common but flexible resilience standards across CNI and do more on the assurance of CNI, including cyber assurance preparedness by 2030.

Northern Ireland Office

Gender Based Violence: Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Northern Ireland Administration on a strategy on ending violence against women and girls.

Mr Steve Baker: The Secretary of State recently visited the Women’s Aid Federation NI in Belfast as part of the 16 Days of Action against gender-based violence, to hear about this important issue. It is disappointing that Northern Ireland remains the only region of the UK without a dedicated strategy to tackle violence against women and girls. The UK Government notes the significant work currently underway in the Executive Office to develop a Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls. It is vital that the Northern Ireland Executive is restored to approve and implement this strategy.

Northern Ireland Office: ICT

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much their Department spent on (a) current and (b) legacy IT infrastructure (i) in total and (ii) purchased in 2013 or earlier in each of the last three years.

Mr Steve Baker: On current IT infrastructure, the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) spent a total of £1.358m over the last three years. This can be broken down as £475k in financial year 23/24, £428k in financial year 22/23, and £455k in financial year 21/22. The NIO has no legacy IT infrastructure and no IT infrastructure purchased in 2013 or earlier.

Department for Transport

Railways: Mid Bedfordshire

Alistair Strathern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the number of train services in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.

Huw Merriman: The pandemic has changed travel habits and all operators are required to continually review their services to ensure they are providing a timetable that is appropriate to the latest passenger demand, is fit for the future, and carefully balances cost, capacity, and performance. GTR’s timetable matches the current levels of passenger demand. A full timetable including a Saturday service resumption on the Marston Vale Line between Bedford and Bletchley is expected in early 2024, with driver training of the Class 150 trains well underway.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department makes an assessment of the (a) quality and (b) durability of (i) pothole repairs, (ii) resurfacing and (c) other maintenance of local roads.

Guy Opperman: The Department works with both local highway authorities and National Highways to assess road surface condition across England annually. Local highway authorities undertake road condition surveys on their classified road networks, and their surveys identify road defects and provide an overall score of road condition. The latest data was published on gov.uk on 23 November 2023:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/road-conditions-in-england-to-march-2023 It is up to local highway authorities to determine how best to fulfil their statutory duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, taking into account local circumstances and priorities. This includes decisions on the equipment, techniques, and materials used as part of their maintenance activities. The Department advocates a risk-based, whole-lifecycle-asset management approach that considers all parts of the highway network, and recommends that authorities follow the best practice guidance set out in the Well-managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice which is available via the website of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation.

Electric Vehicles: Charging Points

Alistair Strathern: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points in (a) Mid Bedfordshire constituency and (b) the UK.

Anthony Browne: The Department is supporting local authorities in England through its £381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund. Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated over £1.4 million in capital funding to support the installation of EV chargepoints. Central Bedfordshire will also benefit from almost £350,00 of capability (resource) funding, which will secure dedicated in-house expertise to support authorities to plan, procure and tender the delivery of local chargepoints. In addition, the council has been awarded £456,883 for 63 chargepoints through the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, which is available to all local authorities in the UK.

Public Transport: Carbon Emissions and Driverless Vehicles

Mick Whitley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to support local authorities to develop (a) carbon-neutral and (b) autonomous public transport systems.

Anthony Browne: The Transport Decarbonisation Plan set out how we will drive decarbonisation at the local level, outlining how a ‘place-based’ approach will help make our villages, towns and cities cleaner, greener, healthier and more prosperous places to live, work and enjoy The Department for Transport is also committing record amounts of funding for decarbonising public transport. Since March 2020, the Department has invested over £3.5 billion in buses, including £129 million to support the transition to an entirely zero-emission bus fleet. This has helped deliver 4,000 zero-emission buses across the UK. In March 2023, DfT announced the launch of the £381 million Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund. The LEVI Fund supports local authorities (LAs) in England to work with industry and transform the availability of EV charging for drivers without off-street parking. This will deliver tens of thousands of local chargepoints, ensuring the transition to electric vehicles (EV) takes place in every part of the country. Additionally, £1.3 million of Government funding is supporting local authorities and regional transport operators to study how self-driving vehicle technology can improve local public transport in remote, rural, and urban areas. Studies will look into how self-driving vehicle technology could be cheaper, emit less carbon, and increase safety and security compared to other forms of mass transit. The grants will help local places to build evidence on utilising emerging transport technologies to decrease carbon emissions.

Cars: Exhaust Emissions

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2023 to Question 451 on Cars: Exhaust Emissions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the decision to move the ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035 on (a) public health and (b) other matters; and whether his Department has plans to conduct further impact assessments.

Anthony Browne: The Department has not completed any assessment on the air quality impact of the decision to delay the end of sale date for new diesel and petrol cars from 2030 to 2035. However, the Government has laid the Vehicle Emissions Trading Schemes Order 2023 before the Houses of Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd Cymru on 16th October,which implements the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate across Great Britain. The ZEV mandate is Government biggest carbon reduction measure and will significantly reduce tail pipe emissions as set out in the cost benefit analysis published by the Department. All impacts, including public health, are detailed in the impact assessment: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2023/9780348252453/pdfs/ukdsiod_9780348252453_en_001.pdf

Roads Policing Review

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department plans to publish the final report of the Roads policing review.

Guy Opperman: I believe the Hon member is referring to the Government Response to Call for Evidence on Roads Policing. The Call for Evidence saw 149 responses submitted, many of which were incredibly detailed. The Government intends to publish the response, once it has given the responses full consideration.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Sir Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2023 to Question 369 on Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the creation of a UK vehicle category on the (a) attractiveness for investment of the UK market, (b) availability of L-category vehicles to consumers and (c) role for L-Category vehicles as set out in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

Anthony Browne: Vehicle categorisation is very important to enable effective regulation and enable investment planning by industry. The current, temporary, type-approval scheme for these L-category vehicles ends on 31st December 2027 and the Government expects to have a full GB approval scheme in place before then. We will consult stakeholders as part of this process and consider any evidence on the potential for additional categories.

Department for Transport: Recruitment

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department spent on external recruitment consultants in the (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23 financial year.

Anthony Browne: Due to the financial reporting system in the department it is not possible to separate out spend associated with external recruitment consultancy services from all other consultancy spend.

Department for Transport: Official Hospitality

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much their Department spent on hospitality in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

Anthony Browne: The Department for Transport incurred costs of £50,934 in 2021-22 and £156,907 in 2022-23 on hospitality spend. Data for 2020-21 can only be provided at disproportionate cost. Departmental spending on alcohol is not normally permitted.

Buses: Exhaust Emissions

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 14 September 2023 to Question 198771, how much funding his Department has provided for specific retrofit initiatives under the NO2 Programme since 1 January 2017.

Anthony Browne: Since 2017 the NO2 programme has provided £31 million for bus upgrade and retrofit schemes to local authorities, with some local discretion about how this funding is allocated.

Aviation: Fuels

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the use of sustainable fuel in the aviation sector.

Anthony Browne: The Government is introducing world leading measures to support the development, production, and use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the UK. We have confirmed that a SAF mandate will be introduced in 2025, driving the demand for SAF by requiring at least 10% (around 1.5 billion litres) of jet fuel to be made from sustainable feedstocks by 2030. In November we supported Virgin Atlantic to deliver the world’s first 100% SAF transatlantic flight on a commercial aircraft, with up to £1 million of grant funding. To secure SAF supply and meet our aim of having 5 plants under construction by 2025, we are kickstarting a domestic SAF industry by allocating over £135m for UK SAF production facilities through the Advanced Fuels Fund. To support investment in SAF we have also committed to implement a revenue certainty mechanism for SAF production.

Airports: Security

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 18 July 2023 to Question 193065 on Aviation: Security, on what dates Ministers in his Department have held discussions with (a) the Airports Operators Association, (b) Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd and (c) other major UK airport operators on their progress on the installation of Next Generation Security Checkpoints since 15 December 2022.

Anthony Browne: The Department and Ministers continue to regularly engage with the aviation industry including key stakeholders such as the Airports Operators Association, Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd and other airport operators regarding the implementation of the Next Generation Security Checkpoint.Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations are published routinely on gov.uk and can be found here: DfT: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment: Autism

Beth Winter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department produces for PIP assessors on how to process cases where an applicant has autism spectrum disorder.

Paul Maynard: All claimants, including those with autism spectrum disorder, are assessed in accordance with the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment Guide available on GOV.UK. Assessment providers are required to ensure all health professionals (HPs) carrying out PIP assessments have comprehensive training and knowledge of the clinical aspects and overall functional effects of a wide range of health conditions and impairments, including autism spectrum disorder. HPs have access to a wide range of clinical resources, including e-learning modules and case studies, to research any conditions presented. Both Capita and Independent Assessment Services have a Condition Insight Report on autism for use by their HPs. In addition, HPs are also expected to keep their knowledge up to date through continuing professional development.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department has spent on the Health Transformation Programme.

Paul Maynard: The Department’s spend for delivering HTP as of the end of March 2023 is £168 million.

Musculoskeletal Disorders: Unemployment

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department plans to take to support people with (a) arthritis and (b) musculoskeletal conditions who have been out of work for longer than six months into work.

Mims Davies: Following the £2 billion investment announced at the Spring Budget, we announced a new package of support in Autumn Statement 2023 to: double the number of places on the Universal Support employment programme; launch WorkWell in approximately 15 pilot areas to provide light touch work and health support; explore new ways of providing individuals receiving a fit note with timely access to support; and establish an expert group to advise on a voluntary national baseline for Occupational Health provision.In the Spring Budget, the government set out new measures to tackle the leading health-related causes keeping people out of work, including specific initiatives for people with MSK conditions:Introducing employment advisers within MSK services, including to support people with MSK conditions to thrive in work;Developing and scaling up MSK hubs in the Community, building on the example of delivering physical activity interventions in local leisure and community centre venues;Making best use of digital health technologies to support people with MSK conditions to better manage symptoms and remain in the workforce. This will include providing access to digital therapeutics for MSK problems. This new investment builds on the Government’s existing ambitious programme of initiatives to support disabled people and people with health conditions, including people with both arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, to start, stay and succeed in work. These include: the Work and Health Programme; Access to Work grants; Disability Confident; a digital information service for employers; Disability Employment Advisers and increasing Work Coach support in Jobcentres; Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care. On the 24 January 2023, Government announced plans to publish the Major Conditions Strategy (MCS). The Strategy will focus on six major groups of conditions including musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis. It will explore how we can tackle the key drivers of ill-health in England, reduce pressure on the NHS and reduce ill-health related labour market inactivity. The Strategy will focus on six major groups of conditions, including musculoskeletal disorders, and our intention is to publish in early 2024. In October 2022 we published the Musculoskeletal (MSK) Health Toolkit for employers and further education institutions which encourages employers to support adolescents and young adults with MSK conditions. The Musculoskeletal health toolkit for employers was developed in partnership with Business in the Community and provides practical information for employers of all sizes to address MSK conditions in the workplace for the working age population.

Work Capability Assessment

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to the Work Capability Assessment on disabled people’s finances.

Mims Davies: The vast majority of existing Universal Credit (UC) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants will not be affected by the Work Capability Assessment Changes if they have already been assessed as having Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity LCWRA. With the Chance to Work Guarantee, which will be introduced with the WCA changes in 2025, the majority of this group will be able to try work without the fear of reassessment, as we will be switching off department-led reassessments for existing claimants. The financial impacts on individuals have been considered in taking decisions on the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), alongside consideration of the responses to the consultation. The Office for Budget Responsibility have published their assessment of the numbers that they expect to be affected by the changes and HMT have also published the impacts in their policy costing note that accompanies the Autumn Statement. We will publish an Impact Assessment in due course.

Disability: Poverty

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposals set out in the Government Response to the Work Capability Assessment: Activities and Descriptors Consultation, published on 22 November 2023, on trends in the level of disabled people in poverty.

Mims Davies: It is not possible to produce a robust estimate of the impact of the changes to Work Capability Assessments on levels of poverty for disabled people or people with or health conditions. The overall financial impacts of these measures on individuals have been considered in taking decisions on the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), alongside consideration of the responses to the consultation. The Office for Budget Responsibility have published their assessment of the numbers that they expect to be affected by the changes and HMT have also published the impacts in their policy costing note that accompanies the Autumn Statement. We aim to publish an Impact Assessment in due course.

Disability: Employment Schemes

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department plans to take to assess the impact of the Universal Support programme on employment outcomes.

Mims Davies: Universal Support aims to match long-term sick, disabled and disadvantaged participants with suitable vacancies, based on their preferences, strengths, and any lessons from previous work experience. The programme will fund up to £4,000 per participant on relevant support such as training and practical help for employers to make appropriate adjustments e.g to recruitment approaches, to ensure participants can succeed in their roles.In the Autumn Statement, the government announced it will increase the annual number of placements available on Universal Support to 100,000 in England and Wales, doubling its commitment made in the Spring Budget 2023. As we continue developing Universal Support, which is expected to launch in late 2024, we are also developing evaluation plans which will take into consideration assessment and impact of the programme on employment outcomes.

Unemployed People: Broadband

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households received free broadband for six months from the TalkTalk and Jobcentre Plus scheme.

Jo Churchill: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Household Support Fund

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of ending the Household Support Fund on (a) local authorities and (b) people accessing local authority services.

Mims Davies: Since October 2021, Government has provided over £2 billion to local authorities in England via the Household Support Fund (HSF) for them to provide discretionary support with the cost of essentials to those most in need. As with all government spending in England, the HSF has led to consequential increases in Barnett funding, which the Devolved Administrations can spend at their discretion. The current Household Support Fund runs from April 2023 until the end of March 2024. No such assessment has been made of the potential impact of the ending of the Household Support Fund on local authorities and people accessing local authority services. The government continues to keep all its existing programmes under review in the usual way.

Loneliness

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to require his frontline officials to (a) assess the potential (i) loneliness and (ii) social isolation when interacting with people who may be vulnerable to those challenges and (b) signpost those people to (A) social prescribing services and (B) other civil society engagement opportunities.

Mims Davies: All new and existing staff who work with customers are trained to consider a person's circumstances and to tailor support according to their individual needs. Staff complete training that covers a wide range of claimant circumstances, including how to recognise the signs of loneliness and social isolation. Staff also have access to information on services and support available in their local area for claimants who are vulnerable or who have complex needs, and can signpost to relevant organisations, suggest social prescribing options, or other relevant opportunities such as volunteering. We’re committed to improving and expanding this Jobcentre Plus signposting, as outlined in Department for Culture, Media and Sport's fourth Tackling Loneliness Report.

Disability: Cost of Living

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of increases in cost of living on people with complex disabilities.

Paul Maynard: The Cabinet Office Disability Unit is considering the potential impacts of cost of living on disabled people. The Disability Unit continues to liaise with stakeholders and across government departments to ensure the broadest understanding of how increases in living costs affect disabled people, including people with complex disabilities, and advises Ministers accordingly.

Department for Work and Pensions: Official Hospitality

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much their Department spent on hospitality in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

Paul Maynard: We do not routinely publish this data, as has been the case under successive administrations. All Business Units within the DWP Department have a responsibility to keep official hospitality costs as low as possible and demonstrate good value for money. Details of ministerial and senior official hospitality are published on a quarterly basis and are available on GOV.UK.

Department for Work and Pensions: Written Questions

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many written parliamentary questions to his Department remained unanswered when Parliament prorogued on 26 October 2023.

Paul Maynard: There were two written parliamentary questions where the department was unable to provide a substantive answer before Prorogation. The following questions received the standard Prorogation response: 203976 and HL10597. Hl10597 was answered substantively by letter, as is protocol.

Unemployment: Medical Treatments

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who are (a) waiting for (i) trauma and (ii) orthopaedic treatment and (b) are unable to work until they are treated who will be supported to (A) receive their treatment and (B) re-enter the workforce.

Paul Maynard: The Department has not made such an assessment.

Access to Work Programme

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Access to Work scheme applications were submitted for reconsideration in 2023.

Paul Maynard: In response to your question, I have provided the information on reconsiderations below: January 2023 – 16February – 32March 2023 – 32April 2023 – 21May 2023 – 22June 2023 – 20July 2023 – 40August 2023 – 32September 2023 – 28October 2023 – 33November 2023 - 34 Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.

Work Capability Assessment

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the scorecard set out in the Autumn Statement document for the reform of the Work Capability Assessment descriptors takes into account the planned implementation of the Health and Disability White Paper for new claimants from 2026-27.

Paul Maynard: The impact of the planned reforms set out in the Health and Disability White Paper has not yet been scored by the Office for Budget Responsibility. Therefore, the impact of the changes to the Work Capability Assessment announced at Autumn Budget do not include the impact of the White Paper reforms.

Disability

Mr Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effectiveness of the Disability Action Plan.

Paul Maynard: Since the Disability Action Plan consultation closed on 6 October, we have been working closely with other government departments, including discussions with the Ministerial Disability Champions, to help finalise policy proposals for the Plan. We will publish the Plan as soon as possible.

Employment: Neurodiversity

Sir Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to encourage industry to foster a more inclusive working environment for neurodivergent people.

Sir Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to help integrate neurodiversity into working (a) practices and (b) culture in the (i) public and (ii) private sector.

Paul Maynard: We know that neurodivergent people bring many positive benefits to businesses and therefore understand the importance of encouraging employers to adopt more neuro-inclusive working practices.The Secretary of State and Tom Pursglove (former Minister for Disabled People) are very grateful for the work you have been leading on the Review into Autism Employment, which has been exploring working practices or initiatives which can reduce stigma and create a more inclusive working environment for autistic and neurodiverse employees in the public, private and voluntary sectors. We look forward to the publication of the report early in 2024, and then to working with you, with employers, and with stakeholders to implement the recommendations from the report and encourage a more neuro-inclusive culture in the workplace.We are also supporting employers via Disability Confident to increase their understanding of how to recruit, retain and support disabled employees and those with long term health conditions. The scheme provides employers with the skills and knowledge to remove barriers that might be preventing disabled people, neurodivergent people and those with long term health conditions from accessing employment and allows them opportunities to fulﬁl their potential and realise their aspirations.

Social Security Benefits: Children

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Department’s publication entitled Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit claimants: statistics related to the policy to provide support for a maximum of 2 children, April 2023, published on 13 July 2023, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the finding that 59% of the households impacted by the two-child limit are in work.

Jo Churchill: No such assessment has been made.

Department for Work and Pensions: Recruitment

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on external recruitment consultants in the (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23 financial year.

Paul Maynard: Due to the financial and reporting systems in the department it is not currently possible to separate out spend associated with external recruitment consultancy services from all other consultancy spend for the majority of departmental recruitment. However, we are able to provide the following figures, which apply to Senior Civil Service Recruitment only. To note, this does not include digital recruitment. 2020/21: £190,627.842021/22: £211,054.002022/23 (Mar22 to Feb23) : £171,608.46 These figures represent executive search activity spend on SCS (Deputy Director – Director General) recruitment for non-digital roles across these years.

Work Capability Assessment: Flexible Working

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Government Response to the Work Capability Assessment: Activities and Descriptors Consultation, published on 22 November 2023, what steps his Department plans to take to help increase the availability of home working jobs for people with health conditions affecting their mobility.

Paul Maynard: There has been a significant increase in the availability of hybrid and home working opportunities, and there is better employer understanding of the needs of disabled people and people with health conditions, since the WCA criteria were last updated in 2011. Our Jobcentre staff will continue to work with all employers to help ensure they are making all opportunities accessible to realise the talents and potential of people with health conditions and disabilities. Our expanded employment and health offer will provide integrated and tailored support to disabled people to help them to move claimants closer to work and help them to access these opportunities within the labour market.

Poverty: Children

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential correlation between the (a) proportion of children living in households affected by the two-child limit and (b) levels of child poverty.

Mims Davies: The Government is committed to reducing poverty, including child poverty, and supporting low-income families. We will spend around £276bn through the welfare system in Great Britain in 2023/24 including around £124bn on people of working age and children. From April 2023, we uprated benefit rates and State Pensions by 10.1% and, subject to Parliamentary approval, working-age benefits will rise by 6.7% from April 2024, in line with inflation. Our approach to tackling poverty is based on clear evidence that parents in work, particularly where its full time, reduces the risk of poverty. In the financial year 2021 to 2022, children living in households where all adults work were around five times less likely to be in absolute poverty after housing costs than those living in workless households. In 2021/22 there were 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10, including 400,000 fewer children. No such assessment of the potential correlation between the proportion of children living in households affected by the two-child limit and levels of child poverty has been made.

Access to Work Programme

Wendy Chamberlain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2023 to Question 3350 on Access to Work Programme, how many applications to the Access to Work scheme were rejected in each month from April 2021 to April 2022.

Paul Maynard: In response to your question, I have provided the information on applications not receiving an Access to Work award below: April 2021 – 1,678May 2021 – 1,579June 2021 – 1,909July 2021 – 1,784August 2021 – 1,285September 2021 – 1,547October 2021 – 1,853November 2021 – 2,082December 2021 – 1,954January 2022 – 1,807February 2022 – 1,615March 2022 – 2016April 2022 – 1,478 Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.

Work Capability Assessment

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2023, whether he had discussions with (a) disabled people and (b) disabled people's organisations when finalising reforms to the Work Capability Assessment.

Paul Maynard: We published our response to the consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment criteria on 22 November. We engaged extensively throughout the consultation period, taking care to ensure the views of charities, groups and organisations that represent disabled people were considered. 14 public consultation events were held, both face-to-face across Great Britain, and virtually. We also engaged directly with clinical experts, employer groups and disability organisations across the country. We received over 1300 written responses from disabled people and people with health conditions, as well as the organisations that represent and support them. We listened carefully to what people told us and took their views into account when deciding about which changes to take forward.

Social Security Benefits: Children

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department holds information on the number of households that (a) are affected by the two-child limit and (b) have accessed support from the Household Support Fund since that fund was established.

Jo Churchill: The Government publishes annual statistics releases related to the operation of the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children. Statistics related to the period up to April 2023 were published in July 2023 and can be accessed at Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit claimants: statistics related to the policy to provide support for a maximum of 2 children, April 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).  Household Support Fund management information has been published and can be found here:Household Support Fund 3 management information:1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Household Support Fund 2 management information: 1 April to 30 September 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Household Support Fund management information: 6 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Pension Funds: Advisory Services

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Pension Schemes Act 2015 (Transitional Provisions and Appropriate Independent Advice) 2015 Post Implementation Review, published on 4 April 2023, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the conclusions of that review.

Paul Maynard: The underpinning policy intent behind these regulations and objectives was to ensure members with safeguarded benefits understood the level of security in retirement provided by such benefits and what the member would lose if they were to exchange them for benefits that can be accessed flexibly.The Post Implementation Review highlighted that the existing measures remain appropriate and effective. We have however identified that there may be issues with the structure and application of the regulations. We are currently conducting further work with the Pensions Regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, and His Majesty’s Treasury to consider if there are possible changes that maintain protection for members and continue to ensure that the intent of the policy is not undermined. We will be sharing the outcome of this work in due course.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department provides to the (a) risk review team and (b) enhanced review team on suspension and termination.

Paul Maynard: All members of ERT are provided with full training and with guidance which is clear about how case suspensions and terminations (closures) should be handled. If a suspension is put in place on a claim, the claimant is made fully aware of any actions they need to take and information they need to provide in order to progress the review of their case. A clear explanation is also provided to the claimant about the potential consequences should they fail to fully comply with these requirements within the required timescales. The guidance also ensures that ERT team members consider potential customer vulnerability throughout the duration of any intervention. As the NAO have reported in the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, ‘The majority of 2022-23 savings (£650 million) came from the Enhanced Review Team (ERT), which provides a rapid response service for detailed checking of high-risk Universal Credit claims before they go into payment. These estimates also suggest that preventative actions have a much higher level of return than investigating fraud and error after it has occurred.’

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of benefit claims (a) flagged and (b) investigated by the (i) Risk Review Team and (ii) Enhanced Review Team have resulted in the suspension of benefits in each of the last three years.

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of benefit claims suspended by the (a) Risk Review Team and (b) Enhanced Review Team in each of the last three years (i) have subsequently been (A) closed and (B) reinstated and (ii) remain suspended.

Simon Lightwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of claimants who were given a negative decision following the suspension of their claim by the Risk Review Team or Enhanced Review Team (a) appealed that decision and (b) had a tribunal allow their appeal in each of the last five years.

Paul Maynard: The Risk Review Team (RRT) has now been incorporated in to a broader and wide-ranging Enhanced Review Team (ERT), aimed at identifying and stopping fraud early. As the NAO have reported in the Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23. ‘The majority of 2022-23 savings (£650 million) came from the Enhanced Review Team (ERT), which provides a rapid response service for detailed checking of high-risk Universal Credit claims before they go into payment. These estimates also suggest that preventative actions have a much higher level of return than investigating fraud and error after it has occurred.’ Data on how many and what proportion of cases handled by ERT have resulted in suspension is not available to this level for ERT and to produce it would incur disproportionate costs. This is due to large volumes of data being held across different clerical platforms, which would need to be forensically examined. Likewise, data on cases closed, reinstated, or remaining suspended, cannot be provided within reasonable costs. We are unable to provide the number of claimants who have appealed decisions on cases closed following RRT/ERT action and the number who have been successful in their appeals over the last five years because ERT only started completing reviews in April 2020. We are unable to give per year figures since the formation of ERT due to the lengthy dispute process and are also unable to identify which appeals would have previously been suspended, due to this data not being held. However, the cumulative total of cases for RRT and ERT that have been through the dispute process are: Appealed to date - 1118Outcome in claimant’s favour – 228

Social Security Benefits: Children

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of (a) households and (b) children in those households that will be affected by the two-child limit in each of the next five years.

Jo Churchill: The information requested is not available. The Government publishes annual statistics related to the operation of the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children. Statistics related to the period up to April 2023 were published in July 2023 and can be accessed at Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit claimants: statistics related to the policy to provide support for a maximum of 2 children, April 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Department for Business and Trade

Department for Business and Trade: Official Hospitality

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much their Department spent on hospitality in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

Greg Hands: We do not routinely publish this data, as has been the case under successive administrations. All Business Units within the Department for Business and Trade have a responsibility to keep official hospitality costs as low as possible and demonstrate good value for money. Details of ministerial and senior official hospitality are published on a quarterly basis, and are available on GOV.UK.

Trade Agreements: Timor-Leste

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Government has plans to pursue a free trade agreement with East Timor.

Greg Hands: We have an ambitious programme of Free Trade Agreement negotiations - the largest such programme in the world - to help our nation become a truly Global Britain. We are currently in negotiations with eight partners, and have plans to start negotiations with Turkey and the Maldives.The Department does not currently have plans to start a new trade agreement with East Timor. Under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, East Timor benefits from duty free trade with the UK, in all areas apart from arms. It also benefits from some of the simplest and most generous rules of origin in the world.

Shipbuilding

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to page 61 of the policy paper entitled Refresh to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, published on 10 March 2022, whether her Department has completed the market assessment of green marine capability.

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to page 61 of the policy paper entitled Refresh to the National Shipbuilding Strategy, published on 10 March 2022, whether the market assessment of future opportunities in a range of other vessel types has been completed.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The UK green maritime sector is highly innovative with world-leading propulsion and vessel efficiency technology. Green maritime capability has been assessed as part of an export-focused internal assessment of the UK maritime supply chain.Research has also been conducted on overseas markets to identify demand for UK green maritime capabilities. Alongside the National Shipbuilding Office and the Department for Transport, DBT maintains active dialogue with companies and industry bodies to inform its understanding of developments in this fast-growing sub-sector.

Postal Services: Standards

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with Royal Mail on (a) delayed and (b) missed postal deliveries in Tooting constituency.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking with Royal Mail to improve postal deliveries in Tooting constituency.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) delayed and (b) missed postal deliveries on residents in Tooting constituency.

Dr Rosena Allin-Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions she has had with Royal Mail on the adequacy of postal deliveries in the lead up to Christmas in Tooting constituency.

Kevin Hollinrake: I am aware that Royal Mail continues to have service challenges in some postcode areas. I note that Royal Mail management accepts its performance needs to be much better and has started to address this, for example, by recruiting an additional 3,000 postmen and women so far with a further 500 permanent delivery positions a week going forwards.Ofcom sets and monitors Royal Mail’s service standards and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action where there are reasonable grounds for concluding Royal Mail has failed to achieve its obligations. I note that the regulator recently fined the business £5.6m for failing to meet its service delivery targets in 2022-23 and has committed to closely monitoring Royal Mail’s performance this year.

Postal Services: Electric Vehicles

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many of Royal Mail's delivery routes have changed as a result of the adoption of electric vehicles.

Kevin Hollinrake: Royal Mail is a private company, and the Government does not have a role in its operational decisions including the deployment of electric vehicles and administration of delivery routes.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Water Abstraction: Teddington

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to Thames Water's s35 application for its Teddington Direct River Abstraction proposal.

Robbie Moore: Thames Water have requested that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs gives a direction under Section 35 of the Planning Act 2008 for the Teddington Direct River Abstraction. The Secretary of State will respond to Thames Water in line with the statutory timeframe required.

Flood Control: Wales

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent flooding in Wales in winter 2023-2024.

Robbie Moore: Flood risk management is a devolved matter and the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

Water: Prices

Alistair Strathern: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment Ofwat has made of the affordability of water bills for pensioners living in poverty.

Robbie Moore: Affordability of water bills is an important area of focus for Ofwat as customers are at the heart of its regulatory activity. Water companies are tasked with providing support to customers that are financially struggling and Ofwat is continuing to push companies to provide prompt, accessible support to the customers that need it most. Ofwat also monitors the experiences of bill payers through its cost-of-living survey, including how customers respond to changes in water bills. This includes information on older people without private pensions, and those struggling to pay bills. Ofwat expect water companies to do everything they can to support all customers who are vulnerable, in debt or struggling to pay. In so doing, it will continue to work closely with the Consumer Council for Water who also have an important role in the provision of affordability support for consumers, including having regard to the interests of individuals of pensionable age.

Joint Air Quality Unit

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2023 to Question 452 on Joint Air Quality Unit, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs/Department for Transport Joint Air Quality Unit (a) fulfills its remit and (b) delivers value for money.

Robbie Moore: Ministerial oversight of the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) is in line with that for other parts of the Department. The 2022 National Audit Office review of the NO2 Programme, which Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) delivers, noted the progress that Government has made in tackling illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide air pollution.

Barbecues and Sky Lanterns

Selaine Saxby: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish the research study into single use sky lanterns, disposable barbecues and helium balloons that concluded in March 2023.

Robbie Moore: Defra commissioned Eunomia in September 2022 to assess the environmental impacts of single use barbecues, sky lanterns and helium balloons. The research concluded earlier this year and we are hoping to publish the report soon.

Ministry of Justice

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Standards

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether (a) complaints and (b) other feedback can be provided to HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) staff within HMCTS buildings; and what steps (i) operations, cluster and group managers in courts and (ii) senior officials in HMCTS take to ensure feedback processes are fit for purpose.

Mike Freer: Both (a) complaints and (b) other feedback can be provided directly to HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) staff within HMCTS buildings. In instances where feedback cannot be provided in person, HMCTS also accepts complaints and feedback, in writing (by email and letter), over the phone or online via the HMCTS gov.uk website. (i) Local managers in courts are regularly involved in responding to complaints across all communication channels. There is guidance available to all staff to set out how complaints and feedback can be received. (ii) Feedback processes are considered as part of the overall user experience that senior officials routinely review.

Ministry of Justice: Communication

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his Department's (a) policies, (b) procedures and (c) service standards are for officials in (i) his Department, (ii) the HM Courts and Tribunals Service and (iii) the Judicial Office on ensuring the timeliness and effectiveness of communications to (A) Ministers in his Department and (B) judges; what records are kept of receipt of such communications; whether (1) triggers and (2) alerts are in place if communications are not provided within agreed service standards; and who has responsibility for dealing with concerns relating to any such communications.

Mike Freer: There are a number of polices, procedures and service standards across MoJ and its agencies including HM Courts & Tribunals Service that ensure the effective communication between the relevant area of the MoJ, Ministers and Judges. This includes different polices or procedure depending on the type of communication. In HMCTS, OPTIC is used as a complaints management system to handle correspondence, including ministerial correspondence which includes triggers and alters that ensure service standards are maintained. Judicial Office is independent and has its own policies, procedures and service standards for communications that likewise ensure effective communication between departments and to ministers and judiciary.

Legal Aid Scheme: Universal Credit

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2023, published on 22 November 2023, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of proposals to remove access to legal aid for Universal Credit claimants who have had an open-ended sanction for over six months on access to justice.

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2023, published on 22 November 2023, whether the proposal to end access to legal aid for sanctioned Universal Credit claimants (a) relates to (i) criminal and (ii) civil legal aid and (b) would prevent those people from (A) passporting and (B) accessing all legal aid.

Mike Freer: The DWP proposals on the Back to Work Plan will not remove access to legal aid for those Universal Credit (UC) claimants who may be sanctioned. Whilst anyone whose UC claim is closed would no longer be passported through the legal aid means test income assessment, the individual would remain eligible for civil or criminal legal aid, subject to the application of the full means assessment in the usual way. The additional provisions being built into DWP’s policy proposals will also mean that no vulnerable individual would face having their claim closed, thereby providing a further tier of protection for many legal aid user groups, such as the disabled and the homeless. Over coming months, MoJ officials will be working closely with DWP officials as the policy develops.

Magistrates' Courts: Lancashire

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his planned timetable is for the reopening of (a) Blackpool and (b) Preston magistrates’ courts.

Mike Freer: The safety of everyone who uses our courts is paramount and the decision to temporarily close Blackpool and Preston Magistrates’ courts was made in line with professional advice following the detection of defective Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete. These court buildings will reopen once they are assessed as safe by professionals following the completion of required remedial works. Blackpool Magistrates’ Court is currently scheduled to reopen in February 2024. Preston Magistrates’ Court is currently scheduled to reopen in January 2024. Cases have been heard in other courts in Lancashire to ensure cases continue to be heard in a timely way.

Magistrates' Courts: Lancashire

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of open magistrates courts in Lancashire.

Mike Freer: Both Preston and Blackpool magistrates’ courts are temporarily closed in response to professional assessments about the safety of RAAC in those court buildings. I am however confident that there are sufficient open courts in Lancashire to list cases that have been displaced as a result of these temporary closures and I am grateful to judiciary and all those involved in putting in place these temporary arrangements. We will be investing £220m in the two years to March 2025 to improve the overall quality and enhance the resilience of the court and tribunal estate and ensure that those buildings most in need of investment get it.

Ministry of Justice: Vodafone Group

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the contract awarded by his Department to Vodafone Ltd on 9 November 2023 under tender reference 338599/1285515, if he will publish the Services Description in Schedule 2 of that contract.

Mike Freer: I can confirm that Schedule 2 under tender reference 338599/1285515 has now been published on Contracts Finder.

Young Offender Institutions: Inspections

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his policy to set a target date by which all institutions of the youth secure estate should be considered good by the prison inspectorate.

Edward Argar: Ensuring that all our youth establishments perform to a high level, and provide a good environment, enabling children and young people to turn their backs on crime, is a high priority. All establishments are subject to external inspection. The Youth Custody Service oversees the performance of its establishments via its Performance Framework. The Framework outlines how performance will be monitored and managed, how concerns should be reported, and the support available to resolve concerns. The aim is to address any issues as they arise. Improving performance is a continuing operational function. Following any inspection there is clear timescale within which establishments are required to improve.

Young Offender Institutions: Domestic Visits

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many visits to the youth secure estate have (a) he, (b) the Minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation, (c) the Chief Executive of HMPPS and (d) the Director of the Youth Custody Service undertaken in the last 12 months.

Janet Daby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when was the last time Werrington Young Offender Institution was visited by a (a) Minister and (b) a member of the Ministry of Justice Board.

Edward Argar: Ministers and senior officials continue to work closely with leaders across the youth secure estate, in a variety of forums. During the last 12 months, the Minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation made three site visits to youth secure establishments, and the Executive Director of the Youth Custody Service made 16. The Secretary of State for Justice and the Chief Executive of HMPPS did not make any visits in the timeframe requested. The current and previous Executive Director for the Youth Custody Service have visited HMYOI Werrington on numerous occasions, the most recent being 28 September 2023.

Prisons: Overcrowding

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the value for money of Operation Safeguard in 2023.

Edward Argar: The deployment of Operation Safeguard remains under constant review for value for money.Operation Safeguard is an effective contingency that has allowed us to keep serving the courts and, in certain regions, to meet an acute, localised rise in the prison population.

Prisons: Security

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisons do not have a completed local security strategy as of 4 December 2023.

Edward Argar: Management and oversight of local security strategies (LSS) is undertaken at a local and regional level; there is no central co-ordination. All prisons are required to have a LSS in place. This is a live document, bespoke to that prison and reflective of local risks. Any updates or changes are agreed and signed off locally by the Governor or Director of a contracted prison. Prison Group Directors at a regional level, together with Governors/Directors of contracted prisons, are required to sign an annual assurance statement that states that the LSS of that prison is fit for purpose.

Probation Service: Buildings

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department have carried out surveys to identify buildings constructed with RAAC on the probation estate.

Edward Argar: We take the safety of our staff, people on probation, and those in our custody extremely seriously. We are carrying out an urgent and comprehensive programme of works conducting surveys across our extensive estate, including the probation estate. The programme, which is well underway, will continue over the coming months.

Prisons: Overcrowding

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether officials in his Department plan to review the value for money of triggering Operation Safeguard in 2023.

Edward Argar: The deployment of Operation Safeguard remains under constant review for value for money.Operation Safeguard is an effective contingency that has allowed us to keep serving the courts and, in certain regions, to meet an acute, localised rise in the prison population.

House of Commons Commission

Parliamentary Estate: Sanitary Protection

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission is taking steps to increase access to period products on the parliamentary estate.

Sir Charles Walker: The House of Commons Administration is committed to providing free period products across the Commons Estate. These efforts have been supported by the Administration Committee which agreed in September 2023 that an initial trial of free period products should be made permanent.The House Administration provides a minimum of one machine supplying free period products in each outbuilding and in multiple locations across the Palace, with 27 machines in total. It is undertaking to widen this access to as many applicable toilets as possible.Free provision is supplemented by the continuation of machines offering products to purchase, with 81 across site.

Members and Members' Staff: Science and Statistics

Mary Kelly Foy: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission is taking steps to help increase (a) scientific and (b) statistical literacy among (i) MPs and (ii) MPs' staff.

Sir Charles Walker: The Research and Information Team (R&I) leads on much of the House’s work to support Members and their staff with their research and information needs, including those of a scientific and statistical nature.The team provides direct statistical and scientific support to MPs and their staff through the Enquiry Service. In 2022/23, 18,000 individual Member research requests were handled across all topic areas.The team publishes resources to help parliamentarians engage with scientific and statistical issues, including:Library briefings on How to spot spin and inappropriate use of statistics how to design effective charts and how to design effective statistical tablesPOST guides to common scientific research terms, interpreting scientific evidence, and data analysisThe team provides wider statistical and scientific support to MPs and their staff through events and training. For example, in 2023 the Library hosted:A talk by the Office for National Statistics on how it measures the economyEvidence Week in collaboration with the charity Sense About Science and in partnership with Ipsos, the UK Statistics Authority and universities and research institutions from across the UK. More than 160 MPs, Peers and staff participated.The Library provides courses to enhance research skills, such as a course on finding scientific content and on how to use the Library’s specialist scientific and statistical resources.In addition to the work conducted by R&I, the Members’ Services Team (which leads on general training for Members’ staff) and the Select Committee Team (which supports Committee Members) may also meet requests for scientific or statistical training, or work with R&I to address the need.

House of Commons: ICT

Matt Rodda: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, with reference to the guidance by the Central Digital and Data Office entitled Guidance on the Legacy IT Risk Assessment Framework, published on 29 September 2023, how many red-rated IT systems are used by the House of Commons.

Sir Charles Walker: Parliament does not rate its IT systems according to the Legacy IT Risk Assessment Framework provided by the Central Digital and Data Office.Priority One of Parliament’s Digital Strategy 2022–25 is ensuring that its digital services are flexible, secure and resilient, and Priority 3 of the Strategy is to make digital more sustainable and scalable by updating our operating models and identifying opportunities to improve ways of working. One of the ways Parliament supports these priorities is by managing its legacy technology burden and risk.

House of Commons: ICT

Matt Rodda: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much the House of Commons spends on (a) total IT infrastructure, (b) IT infrastructure that was first purchased in 2013 or earlier and (c) legacy IT infrastructure each year.

Sir Charles Walker: The amount the House of Commons spent on physical, virtual and cloud IT infrastructure in financial year 2022/23 was £8,985,950.As the House of Commons does not record cost data based on legacy or age status, it isn’t possible to provide answers to parts (b) and (c) of the question.

Parliamentary Estate: Power Failures

Sarah Olney: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many power cuts have been recorded on the Parliamentary estate in each of the last five years; and where on the estate they occurred.

Sir Charles Walker: For the purposes of this answer, we are interpreting power cuts to mean loss of power.Our records on power losses on the Estate date from 2019, since when 52 incidents have been recorded. The losses range in scale from loss of power to sockets in an individual room to temporary loss of power to a floor in a building.These incidents have been recorded in buildings across the Estate; 17 in the Palace of Westminster and 35 spread across the other buildings on the Estate.The records do not include (a) the loss of power to some buildings the Northern Estate due to flooding in 2021 and (b) planned maintenance or construction work that requires shutdown of power. Planned power shutdowns are scheduled for out of business hours, including nights and weekends.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Written Questions

Matt Rodda: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to provide a substantive response to Question 2996 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: ICT, which was due for answer by 23 November 2023.

Sir John Whittingdale: We have now responded substantively to Question 2996.

Brass Bands

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department holds data on the number of community brass bands in England in (a) 2003, (b) 2010, (c) 2013, (d) 2019 and (e) 2023.

Sir John Whittingdale: The Department does not hold data on the numbers of community brass bands in England. Our arm’s-length body Arts Council England funds a number of brass band organisations, but does not maintain a category solely for ‘community brass bands’. The brass band organisations it funds includes two nationwide organisations: the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, and Brass Bands England. Brass Bands England promotes, represents, and supports brass bands across England, and will be able to provide information about the number of community brass bands operating.

Music: Education

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to promote English baroque musical tradition in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.

Sir John Whittingdale: England is home to some of the world’s most respected performers of baroque music, from the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists to the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. At this time of year in particular, performances of extracts from Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio will be heard and enjoyed around the country.Performance of baroque music in England, along with other individual musical genres, receives support from a wide variety of sources, including public funding via Arts Council England. There are a number of National Portfolio Organisations and other Arts Council-funded organisations which deliver activity in England relating to baroque music. For example, Britten Pears Arts (which receives over £1.4 million per annum through Arts Council England) operates a baroque orchestra training scheme for younger players and provides residencies and performance platforms for small ensembles including those specialising in period instrument performance.Many National Portfolio Organisations regularly perform or engage with baroque music in England. This includes specialist organisations such as the National Centre for Early Music in York (which receives over £275,000 per annum), and organisations which perform a broader range of music, such as the Royal Opera House (which receives more than £22 million per annum), which has recently staged Handel’s oratorio Jeptha.Arts Council England’s open programmes (such as National Lottery Project Grants, and Develop Your Creative Practice) have also supported individuals and organisations delivering baroque music. This support is open to organisations and individuals across the country, including to those in Romford.Many performances of baroque music in England will be by orchestras, which may be eligible for the Orchestras Tax Relief. At the Spring Budget this year, HM Government announced a two-year extension to the higher rates of Theatre and Orchestra Tax Relief.Romford and Havering are home to an amateur choir, as well as an orchestra, and the Havering Singers’ past concerts have included a performance of Handel’s Messiah.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Parking: Mid Bedfordshire

Alistair Strathern: To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has had discussions with Central Bedfordshire Council on the potential impact of increasing the number of car parking payment machines that accept cash on people without access to a smart phone in Mid Bedfordshire constituency.

Jacob Young: The Secretary of State wrote to all local authorities in England in April 2023 setting out expectations that parking services, for which councils are responsible, should remain accessible to older people or those with vulnerabilities. A copy of the letter was deposited in the Library of the House, and is available here.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Official Hospitality

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much their Department spent on hospitality in (a) 2021, (b) 2022 and (c) 2023.

Mr Alister Jack: We do not routinely publish this data, as has been the case under successive administrations. All Business Units within the Scotland Office have a responsibility to keep official hospitality costs as low as possible and demonstrate good value for money. Details of ministerial and senior official hospitality are published on a quarterly basis, and are available on GOV.UK.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Electricity: Storage

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to page 7 of the Government's response to the call for evidence entitled Facilitating the deployment of large-scale and long-duration electricity storage, published in August 2022, what her planned timetable is for consulting on revenue support mechanisms for large-scale and long-duration electricity storage.

Andrew Bowie: As outlined in the Powering Up Britain and British Energy Security Strategy, we plan to put in place an appropriate policy framework by the end of 2024 to enable investment in large scale long duration electricity storage. We anticipate publishing a consultation on the policy approach around the end of this year.

Small Businesses: Utilities

Tahir Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to help support SMEs with utility costs.

Amanda Solloway: Eligible Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are supported with their energy costs through the Energy Bills Discount Scheme which provides a baseline discount on high energy bills for 12 months from April 2023 until 31 March 2024. A higher level of support is also provided to some Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETIIs) that are particularly exposed to energy cost increases due to their energy and trade intensity and are therefore less able to pass these costs through to their customers due to international competition.

Energy Charter Treaty: Sunset Clauses

Dave Doogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make it her policy to negotiate the removal of the sunset clause from the Energy Charter Treaty.

Amanda Solloway: The Energy Charter Treaty sunset clause applies if Contracting Parties withdraw from the Treaty. On 1 September 2023, the UK announced it is reviewing its membership of the ECT if the modernised Treaty was not adopted by November 2023. The Government is considering the views of stakeholders in business, civil society, and Parliament as part of this process. Parliament will be informed at the earliest opportunity.